ITSATRAP

Johnossi - What's the point (video)

Expressen is streaming the new Johnossi video "What's the point": http://tv.expressen.se/noje/1.1914422/johnossi-what-s-the-point

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart

This week's top 20 Norwegian album chart:

01. Raga Rockers - Shit Happens
02. Diverse artister - Melodi Grand Prix 2010
03. Donkeyboy - Caught in a Life
04. Navigators - The Straight And Narrow
05. Ingrid Olava - The Guest
06. Audrey Horne - Audrey Horne
07. WigWam - Non Stop Rock'N'Roll
08. Diverse artister - Dugnad For Haiti
09. Pelbo - Pelbo
10. The Pink Robots - The Pink Robots
11. John Olav Nilsen & Gjengen - For Sant Til Å Være Godt
12. Sivert Høyem - Moon Landing
13. Frøya - My American Dream
14. Bjørn Hellfuck - Innforjævlig
15. Burzum - Belus
16. Moddi - Floriography
17. Zeromancer - Death Of Romance
18. Casiokids - Topp Stemning På Lokal Bar
19. Joddski (Jørg1) - Krig & Kjærlighet
20. Bare Egil - I Fyr og Flamme

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart

This week's top 20 Swedish album chart:

01. The Playtones - Rock'n roll dance party
02. Björn Skifs - Da capo
03. Sophie Zelmani - I'm the rain
04. Amanda Jenssen - Happyland
05. Kent - Röd
06. Melissa Horn - Säg ingenting till mig
07. Rigmor Gustafsson & Radio String Quartet Vienna - Calling you
08. Torgny Melin - Dansbandsnatt
09. Erik Grönwall - Erik Grönwall
10. Tomas Andersson Wij - Spår
11. Moto Boy - Lost in the call 12. Zekes - En sån natt
13. Shout Out Louds - Work
14. Dark Tranquillity - We are the void
15. Calle Kristiansson - Calle Kristiansson
16. Nordman - Korsväg
17. Mando Diao - Give me fire!
18. Lars Winnerbäck - Tänk om jag ångrar mig och sen ångrar mig igen
19. Nikola Sarcevic - Nikola & Fattiglapparna
20. Freda' - Ett mysterium

A Smile and a Ribbon coming to NYC Popfest, more

Swedish indiepop act A Smile and a Ribbon are coming to the US in May:

05/23 - Littlefield, NYC, NY (NYC Popfest w/The Embassy, etc.)
05/25 - Lizard Lounge, Boston, MA
05/29 - The Monkey House, Winooski/Burlington, VT
05/30 - Le Divan Orange, Quebec

Patrik Andersson & Vegar Vårdal - Gråtaren

"In the large deserted woods on both sides of the Swedish-Norwegian border, Finnish people settled down in the 15th- and 16th century. These areas are now called "Finnskogen", the Finnish woods. The settlers came from difficult times in Finland, and burned down forest to cultivate rye in the ashes. In these vast forests it was hard to tell if you were in Sweden or Norway. Culture does not know borders either, and the music is a common Swedish- Norwegian tradition.

So reads the intro text on "Finnskogen brinner", the collaboration between Swedish fiddle artist Patrik Andersson and his Norwegian counterpart Vegar Vårdal. I am by no means attuned to the many regional differences in Scandinavian folk tradition, so I can't begin to explain how the music of Finnskogen, but these gentlemen play beautifully together. Some of the more minimal folk records I've been listening to as part of my "Listen to Norway" exploration (this is #5) can get grating, especially with the uncertain harmonies of the Hardanger Fiddle, but this one never falters. Two players and their instruments, maybe a little foot-tapping; that's all you need. "Dette var sagt at når Halteguten, Ola Porkkala, spilte denne valsen kunne ikke folk la vaere å gråte."

My apologies for not keeping up with weekly posts in this series, but my dayjob workload has been astounding. Rest assured, there will be lots more music (folk and otherwise) posted in weeks to come.

MP3: Patrik Andersson & Vegar Vårdal - Gråtaren