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Not just outside the box, but denying the existence of boxes.
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Reviews

Hedningarna — Hippjokk
(NorthSide NSD6003, 1997, CD)

Hedningarna — Kaksi!
(NorthSide NSD6007, 1992, CD)

Hedningarna — Trä
(NorthSide NSD6008, 1994, CD)

by Mike McLatchey, Published 1999-01-01

Hippjokk Cover artKaksi! Cover artTrä Cover art

A Swedish quintet of unparalleled folk-fusion, Hedningarna is definitely NorthSide's prime mover. They've been around for quite a while, in fact I think their earliest album (self-titled) was recorded on the Swedish Label Alice. They moved to Silence for the first of the three titles listed here, their second album Kaksi! It's no surprise that Hedningarna owes their influences to ancient folk music, with a wide instrumental palate of violin, hurdy gurdy, percussion, kantele, and a host of other instruments whose names are in Swedish. I hear a mix of Scandinavian folk musics here, but also a strong rock feel at times, giving them heavy similarities to Malicorne, early Kolinda, and sometimes acoustic Led Zeppelin. There are three vocalists (one in the basic trio of instrumentalists), not ever-present, that sing solo or together in an unusual and distinctive manner. What will clue in most listeners about their music, a trait that is becoming more and more evident with each album, is a tribal, ambient-like rhythm base which helps bring it closer to a more contemporary audience. And it's clever the way they do it, with hints to music coming more to the mainstream's attention of late, yet remaining surprisingly focused in their own unique vision. Trä is more of the same, an eclectic and psychedelic sound, droning hurdy gurdys and pulsing rhythms, the range of moods and sounds among the songs is very gratifying yet I would think it too esoteric to reach a mainstream audience. This music is very hard to describe; it is both complex and simple simultaneously. A lot of great bands hit their stride on their third album, and by listening you can tell just how distinctive they're becoming. Hippjokk is just the trio of Anders Stake, Hållbus Totte Mattsson, and Björn Tollin (singer Sanna Kurki-Suonio will be returning for their next album). and the music has reached a new level of hypnotic power. The percussive rhythms are both tribal and ambient and the background is usually filled in nicely with instrumental effects. One of NorthSide's best ancient / contemporary fusions, Hedningarna reaches for that root at the depth of the ancient soul, and come up finding alchemist's gold. (Note that music from the first two titles here, sans bonus tracks, was released as Fire by the Heathens on Sony/Tristar, now deleted and unavailable.)

Filed under: New releases, Issue 16, 1997 releases, 1992 releases, 1994 releases

Related artist(s): Hedningarna, Sanna Kurki-Suonio

 

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