A hardanger fiddle artist hailing from the breathtaking landscapes of Norway, the birthplace of this unique instrument, Benedicte Maurseth delves into age-old melodies, nature, and scenic beauty through the lens of ecosophy—a beliefs that emphasizes ecological balance. From a young age, she trained under master fiddler Knut Hamre, immersing herself in the rich tapestry of tunes and styles associated with her craft. The hardanger fiddle’s sympathetic strings resonate beneath the fingerboard in a mesmerizing manner, vibrating harmoniously with the notes played above—similar to instruments like the sitar and sarangi.
The album “Mirra,” which follows Maurseth’s award-winning work “Hárr,” draws its name from an ancient dialect term that describes wild reindeer moving in a circular formation together as one entity. The rhythmic patterns found in norwegian folk music significantly influence Maurseth’s intricate compositions—infused with elements from minimalism and Krautrock—and also contributions from her bandmates who add layers of sound inspired by nature’s whispers, including animal calls captured during field recordings.
Mats Eilertsen’s bass lines combined with electronic sounds alongside Håkon Stene’s melodic percussion create auditory imagery reminiscent of honking geese or heavy footsteps; this is especially evident in tracks like the jangly title piece “Mirra” and “Jaktmarsj” (Hunting March). The haunting track “Kvitkrull” (Reindeer Lichen) takes inspiration from a Canadian film about Sámi herders released in ’78 while “Nysnø Over Reinlav” features recordings of various animals such as gyrfalcons, whimbrels, wolverines—all interwoven with Morten Qvenild’s delicate piano melodies.
Throughout this album journey, Maurseth employs various techniques on her fiddle—bowing it gently or plucking its strings—to evoke diverse weather conditions ranging from gentle breezes to fierce storms; one standout moment is her tentative yet poignant melody on “Kalven Reiser Seg” (The calf Rises), which captures the tender beginnings of a deer’s life journey beautifully.
interestingly enough, despite living near wild reindeer habitats all her life, Maurseth has only encountered them twice; once at age seven amidst vast herds numbering in hundreds—a reminder that fleeting moments can hold profound magic both musically and within nature itself—the essence that forms the backbone of this remarkable album.
New releases This Month
The London-based duo Spafford Campbell presents thier latest work titled The Next Day Held (Proper world), which brings forth an ethereal concept akin to what it might sound like if Discuss Discuss were to create an album influenced by British folk traditions.
Owen Spafford’s stark instrumentation complements Louis campbell’s guitar reverberations along with minimalist textures resulting in captivating instrumental pieces; their sole vocal track sung by Campbell titled “All Your Little Bones,” leans towards dreamier vibes reminiscent of Bastille or Alt-J.
Rooted deeply within English folk traditions blended seamlessly into Americana influences is Antony Hurley‘s new release Howl for more (Lanterne), offering listeners a languid collection filled with travel-inspired songs crafted across southern Italy down through mexico up until Kent.Lastly,Teppana Jänis (Death Is Not The End),showcases an electrifying collaboration spanning centuries featuring Finnish zither player Jänis recorded on wax cylinders back during mid-’10s alongside singer Taito Hoffrén who passed away recently last year paired up against contemporary kantele player Arja Kastinen creating somthing truly unique!