Legacy

This brilliant Norwegian/Swedish quintet are celebrating 15 years together and they continue to thrill with their take on traditional tunes from both countries. One of the trademarks of their sound is magical textures: they have developed a style which has a driving energy and a clarity allowing the exquisite playing of each musician (fiddles, accordion, guitar, mandolin and drums) to shine through. Even in full-on numbers such as ‘Lördagskvällen’ (Saturday Night) there is light and space while the humour in ‘Gymnastikken’ is never cheesy because the instruments interact and tease with such musicality and delight.

While each musician is worthy of mention, the fiddle playing of Olav Luksengård Mjelva is a reminder of how much he has contributed to the popularity and high standards of the traditional music scene in Scandinavia and beyond. For sheer variety, listen to ‘Tamnes’ with soulful and heartfelt performances from each player, and the final ‘Valser’ is a lyrical crowd-pleaser – SVER really know how to work a room.

Legacy, they say, is a tribute to all the traditional musicians from the past who have inspired them, but in fact SVER will go down in history for their own outstanding contribution to music.