Finland - Helsinki Part II

 Continuing our exploration of the music of Helsinki, we start with young progressive folk band Vimma.  Lead vocalist Eeva Rajakangas has been dubbed the Greta Thunberg of Finland for her environmental activism alongside fellow band member and violinist Pessi Jouste.  This apparently is reflected in much of their lyrics, which sadly I don't understand.  Here is a song from their 2019 debut EP Studio Live called Kuu:

Their latest YouTube release that hasn't found it into any recordings yet has some English subtitles and was filmed after a train carrying coal was blocked by the 2 activists and others in protest against climate change and fossil fuel exploration:

 Folk metal band Ritva Nero formed in Helsinki in 2017.  They combine 18th century dance tunes such as Mazurkas, Polkas and Maanitus on instruments such as saxophone, Finnish bagpipes and nyckelharpa with metal drum and bass to create a contemporary party metal folk style of their own.  Here is a tune from their debut 2022 album Immortal Tradition called Master of Maanitus:

Acid folk duo Akkajee consists of two women or 'akkas', akka translating as a head strong woman with a decisive attitude and a sharp tongue, playing the viola and nyckelharpa as well as singing and playing a home made stomp box.  They tell stories (which sadly I can't understand) seasoned with pulsating beats and floating soundscapes.  This is the title track from their 2021 album Lastenkerääjä (Child Collector):

I first came across singer and pianist Vilma Talvite when she started a series on her YouTube channel called 100 songs from 100 countries, where she took her viewers and listeners on a virtual tour of the world during lockdown.  Apart from her solo projects she is also lead singer of the folk/pop band Valma & Varsinaiset.  Here is a song from their 2018 album Laulaja vailla äntää (Singer without a stutter) called Eturivin tyttö (Girl in the front row):

 

Contemporary folk trio Pauanne mix old archive recordings with violin, keyboards and drums and a fascinating blend.  The recordings, some of them 100 years old include spells from Sámi healers, a sermon from a western Finnish prison and cattle calls from Karelia.  They say, they are fascinated by the 'outrageous beliefs' of the past and its endemic prejudices, paranoia, fear of foreigners and persecution of women.  They feel that these traits are still very much alive, just dressed in modern clothes.  Here is a song from their 2019 self-titled album called Siihen laihin eläny (Lived up to that law):

That's where I'll leave it today, as it looks like we will linger a bit longer in Helsinki next time.  Until then you can follow my virtual travels on my tripline map.

The Faroe Islands

We take the ferry from Hirtshals in Denmark to Tórshavn on the Faroe Islands.  Most people on the Faroes seem to be musicians.  I suppose you have to entertain yourself somehow if you live on a group of rugged islands in the middle of the windswept North Atlantic.  Technically the Faroes form part of the kingdom of Denmark, but they enjoy a large degree of autonomy, although there is an active and large independence movement.  The Faroe Islands consist of 18 main islands connected through bridges and tunnels and 779 islets and skerries.

We start our musical journey with the Nordic ensemble Yggdrasil, who are based in the capital.  The band was formed in 1981 with members from various countries and changing personnel.  Yggdrasil in Nordic mythology is the World Tree.  Their style encompasses jazz and classical elements all with a Nordic flavour. Here are a few tunes from their 2021 album Porkerisvatn which is a concept album to provide musical accompaniment to a landscape painting from a collection by William Heinesen:

Folktronica band Valravn was actually based in Denmark, but at least 2 of their members were from the Faroes, including lead singer Anna Katrin Egilstrøð, who has more than a hint of Björk about her.  The band was active between 2005-2013 and released 3 1/2 albums during that time (the last one was published unfinished) and were inspired by the folk traditions of Denmark, the Faroes and Iceland with a dose of electronica.  This is a song from their 2009 album Koder på snor called Kelling:

Author and musician Høgni Reistrup was born in Tórshavn in 1984.  He's written a few books on the crisis of a decreasing population in the Faroes, despite one of the highest birth rates in Europe.  He has also been active in local politics.  His music is mostly electronica, sung in Faroese with some classical and jazz elements.  Here's a song from his 2013 album Áðrenn vit hvørva (Before we disappear) called Möðandi orka:

Folk metal band Týr formed in Tórshavn in 1998 and play some Nordic folk inspired heavy metal.  Here is a song from their 2019 album Hel called Ragnars Kvæði:

Singer/songwriter Guðrið Hansdóttir grew up in Argir, just south of Tórshavn.  She is the daughter another well-known musician Hans Carl Hansen.  Her music is influenced by Swedish pop as well as 70's rock such as Jethro Tull and Kate Bush.  She sings both in English and Faroese and also collaborates with partner Janus Rasmussen in the duo Byrta.  Here is a song from her forthcoming album Gult Myrkur called Blátt Myrkur:

 

Singer/songwriter Teitur Lassen was born in Hoyvik in 1977.  He has been on the international circuit for some years and has collaborated with the likes of Seal, Corinne Bailey Rae and others.  He writes and sings mostly in English, but has included some Faroese songs on his latest 2021 album Cazador de Ostras such as this one called Lær meg at dansa, which I presume means teach me to dance:

Finally I can't leave the Faroes without giving Eivør Pálsdóttir a mention.  She was my first introduction to Faroese music with her fabulous rendition of her song Tròdlabùndin on YouTube.  She was born in 1983 in Syðrugøta, a village on the island of Eysturoy, and generally just goes by her first name.  The song that made her famous appears on her 2004 self-titled album.  This is acoustically not the best version on the net, but I love the scenes of the spectacular Faroese landscape on this version. It never fails to give me goose bumps:

That's it from the Faroe Islands, next stop Iceland.  In the meantime you can follow my virtual ramblings on my Tripline map.

Switzerland - The North

 

As we enter another new country I have to admit, I'm not a fan of Switzerland.  Yes they make good chocolate and cheese, accurate watches (I don't wear watches) and have pretty mountain views, but I feel slightly claustrophobic in high mountain landscapes and my mind is too anarchic to get on with the law abiding, punctual and well-behaved Swiss.  Every time I drive through Switzerland, which is quite often, I always have a bad conscience, worrying that I drive 2 miles above the speed limit, accidentally missing a pedestrian crossing, forgetting to signal when crossing a lane, parking slightly off-straight at a car park.  You seem to get pulled over for anything, if not by the police, then by an outraged citizen.  I have had more speed tickets in Switzerland than any other country...

So anyway, luckily this blog is only a virtual journey around the country to listen to some music echoing out of these mountains.  We start our trip in the northern city of Schaffhausen near the source of the river Rhine and with something not exactly traditional Swiss.  Metin Demiral was born here as the son of a Swiss mother and a Turkish/Azeri father.  He spent his childhood between here and the eastern Turkish village of Kars, picking up a lot of musical influences.  In the 1980's he formed a band with his German friend Stefan Bittlinger and they called themselves Café Türk.  Their style was influenced by prog rock such as Pink Floyd, Deep Purple and Santana all infused with Anatolian and Azeri tonalities, as well as aksak time signatures.  They started touring social clubs around Switzerland and Germany frequented by the Turkish 'Gastarbeiter' (guest workers), where they gained something of an underground cult status.  At the end of the 80's young Turks turned towards rap and the band soon stopped and Metin started a night club in Schaffhausen instead.  Last year record label Zel Zele rediscovered the band and cut a compilation of Café Türk's music from back then.  This was their biggest hit at the time and opens the new album.  It's called Haydi Yallah:

Accordionist and flutist Patricia Draeger is originally from Winterthur I believe.  She is considered one of the best accordionists in Europe and plays jazz, folk and collaborates with acts from all over the world.  Her latest project is with some Egyptian musicians calling themselves the Ala Fekra Project (Meaning 'and by the way' in Arabic).  Apparently they released a CD in 2020, but I can't find anywhere to buy it, however their self-titled tune appeared on the Global Sounds of Switzerland CD of the Songlines Magazine issue #163.

Also from Winterthur are metal folk band Eluveitie.  They were formed in 2002 by Chrigel Glanzmann as a studio band with varying personnel, but have since established themselves as a regular band.  This is the Swiss being a bit rebellious.  Here is a track from their 2014 album Origin called Call of the Mountains with some nice mountain scenes in the video:

Brothers Christoph and Georg Kiss were born in Zurich of Hungarian descent.  In 2018 they formed Jazz band Okvsho influenced by the British jazz scene, Brazilian percussion and their Hungarian heritage.  They released their debut album Kamala's Danz last year and this is a track from it called Descobrir together with singer Sreya singing in Portuguese:

Also based in Zurich are Afro-fusion trio Siselabonga.  They combine the west African sounds of Senegalese kora player and vocalist Tarang Cissokho with psychedelic rhythms of guitarist Glauco Cataldo and percussionist Fabio Meier.  Their name came from when the 3 met in Madagascar and while in conversation, somebody passed them by, catching snippets and asked what siselabonga meant.  After a moment's head scratching they realised he meant "Si, c'est bon".  So they adopted that as their name.  Here is the title song from their 2020 EP Warnama:

That's it from northern Switzerland, next we'll be heading deep into the mountains of central Switzerland.  As usual you can follow my virtual ramblings on my tripline map.