The Best of the Scandinavian West

NORWAY | Country/Folk

Who knew Scandinavia had such a budding country and folk scene?! I mean, to listen to this Darling group (pun intended), you probably wouldn’t guess that they were born on the other side of the ocean from the Grand Ole Opry, but they were! From grand ole Norway, these beautiful Norwegians are making quite the splash in country music, intertwining harmony upon harmony atop gorgeous melodies that are sure to make your heart melt. The trio consists of Mari Sandvær Kreken on vocals, mandolin, acoustic guitar, harmonica, and dulcimer, Tor Egil Kreken on vocals and banjo, and Kjetil Steensnæs on vocals and guitar.

Upon first listen, I felt as though I was experiencing a taste of the nostalgic, thanks to the lead singer’s lovely vibrato and the tender harmonies that accompany her voice from the other two gentlemen who surround her, along with subtle instrumentation in the background. I couldn’t put my finger on it at first, but then it hit me that there is an Alison Krauss likability to her voice, crisp and clear. And heck, maybe some of the music reminds me of her, too. Their debut album from 2014 Winter Passing is an easy listening album and a decent precursor to their 2016 release Vinyl and a Heartache. Winter Passing may start out slow with the song Stay, but by track 2, A Poor Aim, you begin to get a real taste of their storytelling. The tale of the second song speaks of a woman who shot a man who came to take her land, but over her dead body. Well, actually his. The potential is there with that album, but it wasn’t until I listened to their follow up LP that I was carried away by my love for them.

Vinyl and a Heartache is a homerun in regards to a sequel for them, a solid second album for any artist. Suffice it to say, this one knocks it out of the park. Though only 9 songs long, I have listened to this album over and over again, trying to pick up each harmony, lyric, and so on. Songs Dover and 15 Isolation Row remind me of Irish folk songs in some way, while The Sweetest Tune and Someone Like You embody a pure form of country that I long for more of. My favorite track of all? An impeccable cover of the Fleetwood Mac classic The Chain, which I never knew anyone else could do justice to, but wow. Just wow. They have proved me wrong.

Recently they just released two brand new singles, After My Time, and While I Was Asleep. Out of the two, While I Was Asleep is my favorite because of the dynamics of the song, beginning soft and then taking a turn with an upbeat chorus, with an awesome melody throughout.

I can only imagine how long it is before the states really start picking up on how great these folks are, especially with their current, maturing trajectory. Luckily, this September they will be playing at AmericanaFest in Nashville in case you live nearby. Having won a Norwegian Grammy thus far, there is much that awaits this trio and I am here to cheer them on all the way… Are you?!

 

 

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Listen To
The Chain
While I Was Asleep

If You Like
Alison Krauss
Civil Wars