Sweden Norway: Norrspel

Ocora's long history of field recordings has played an important role in the documentation of musical traditions from around the world. Their latest release is a rich collection of music from Sweden and Norway – 28 short tracks, bringing together dance melodies and wedding tunes. The performers are all highly respected in their own traditions: Leikny Aasen and Vidar Underseth playing Hardanger fiddles from Norway, Kjell-Erik Eriksson and Jon Holmén represent the Swedish fiddle tradition, while Magnus Holmström plays the beguiling Swedish bowed and keyed nyckelharpa.

The selection of tracks is as interesting for a newcomer as it is for any hardcore Scandinavian music fan; there's plenty of variety and excellent examples of the twisting and tumbling of traditional harmonies, combined with infectious rhythms, melancholy, joy and wit. The Norwegian ‘Halling Etter Ole Viken’ (a male dance) begins the CD, the Swedish ‘Gmoll Polska Efter Tallroth’ makes a beautiful nyckelharpa showcase, and the ‘Svålulåten’ from Sweden is both hypnotic and delightfully confusing. Overall, an excellent compilation, with brief but helpful liner notes.