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Nils Okland: Bris
ByStark, and with a raw edge that is light years away from the more romantic tendencies of the Hardanger fiddle's cousin, the violin, Økland's playing and writing reflects solitude, even desolation. While Sigbørn Apeland's harmonium adds an occasional touch of warmth, the more textural percussion of Per Oddvar Johansenknown to fans of the ECM label for his work with Norwegian saxophonist/composer Trygve Seimand Håkon Stene, coupled with the occasional low tones of Mats Eilertsen's bowed bass, do little to temper the feeling of isolation and melancholy that the music evokes.
There are moments of haunting beauty"Blond Blå," with its simple changes and singing melody being one examplebut for the most part, this is music that creates an overriding sense of sadness and loss.
And yet, as much as Bris mines emotions that many might prefer to avoid, it remains a compelling work, one that mysteriously manages to draw one into its bleak universe. Økland, who is also featured on more conventional violin, viola and the viola d'amoreanother instrument that uses sympathetic strings underneath the bowed ones to create sympathetic harmoniesplays with an unbridled edge that remains constant, regardless of the instrument. And his compositions, as much as they are undeniably rooted in the folk music tradition, demonstrate elements of coarser freedom that give them a sound somehow curiously ancient and, at the same time modernageless, really.
Bris is the kind of album that, with its darker edge and unschooled approach, might reserve itself for specific times and moods. And yet, as austere as it can be, there's also a subtle beauty about it, a hidden lyricism that harkens to a simpler life, freed from the clutter that occupies the lives of most of its audience. Strangely distant yet completely engrossing, Bris is an album that, most importantly, continues to reveal new experiences with each listen.
Track Listing
Grålys; Håstabø; Myrekjeblatt; Slør; Blond Blå; Bris; Notten; Seil; Flyt; Avminnast; Gjennom; Bರnn.
Personnel
Nils Okland
violinNils Økland: hardanger fiddle, viola d’amore, violin and viola; Sigbørn Apeland: harmonium; Per Oddvar Johansen: percussion; Håkon Stene: percussion; Mats Eilertsen: double-bass.
Album information
Title: Bris | Year Released: 2005 | Record Label: Rune Grammofon