Nanna Barslev is a neofolk musician from Denmark active since the 1990s and known as the front women of bands Huldre, Asynje, Gny and Ættir. While performing mostly as a vocalist, she is also an accomplished instrumentalist for various traditional Nordic instruments such as the moraharpa. Her stage experience includes numerous appearances at medieval folk festivals, but also at major metal events like Wacken Open Air and Midgårdsblot.
Now, By Norse is releasing Lysbaerer, Barslev’s first solo full-length. “Lysbærer” translates to “Carrier of light”. The album, I have learned, seeks to highlight the co-existence and co-dependence of the light and the dark, of chaos and cosmos. According to the release blurb, the listener is invited “into a hidden world between dark and light in nature and human nature, from misty underworld roots to ancient mountain calls, from scenic battle fields to meditative healing spells”.
One of the things that become apparent after the first listen already is that Lysbaerer is not just another dark folk album. The music recognizably draws inspiration from the medieval period and has pagan roots, but there are also tracks that have a more ambient sound and taken by themselves could not be classified as folk at all.
Of the albums nine compositions, I like those of a dark, medieval shade best. My favourites are the first three tracks, Skjoldmø, Runebundet and Mod vrede, where vocals, percussion and string instruments are beautifully combined forming melodic and atmospheric, old and dark, but also uplifting folk songs. Mod vrede has definitely the darkest atmosphere of the three, and already in the track’s beginning, in the very first notes played on the moraharpa, you can hear the toil and the dearth of the Middle Ages.
The atmosphere changes with track number four, Askr, which is mostly aethereal sounds and vocals. Of a melancholic and yearning character, it is an antipode to the earthy sounds of Mod vrede. Lysbaerer, the title-track, adds a bit of ritualism to the equation. Rhimfaxe returns to a more medieval sound with hurdy gurdy, flute, and a bit of a galloping rhythm. A spoken word passage adds a story-telling aspect. Jaktmarker (hunting grounds) has a string of vocalisations, horns and deep buzzing sounds. Sunna Sol calls ancient shamanism to mind, and final track Sten causes goosebumps with persistent whispering and electrical humming.
The lyrics, as far as I can tell, are mostly in Danish, but that adds to the effect and should not be a problem, since the CD comes with a 20-page booklet featuring English translations.
A bewitching listening experience for lovers of neofolk and dark folk. Fans of Heilung and Wardruna might enjoy the darker passages, whereas fans of Myrkur’s Folkesange might like the lighter ones.
(7.5/10 Slavica)
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