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FolkWorld Issue 38 03/2009
FolkWorld CD Reviews
Siri Karlsson "Mellan träden"
Label: Tombola records; cdtr01; 2008
You might expect that Siri Karlsson is a solo artist, but it’s the name of a duo formed by Maria Arnqvist on saxophone and Cecilia Österholm on the nyckelharpa (key fiddle). This combination of instruments is a classical one since the Forsens låt by Anders Rosén and Roland Keijser who combined the violin and saxophone for the first time in Swedish music. This album Mellan träden includes two traditionals and nine original compositions. The duo is backed on two tracks by Tuomo Haapala on acoustic bass and y Eric Malmberg on Hammond organ. Siri Karlsson delivered an absolute top album with well arranged acoustic music with compositions deeply rooted in the old and new Swedish folk music. Österholm shows to be a wonderful Nyckelharpa player with a warm and intense sound. Listen to her own composition called Järsövalsen, perfectly played, straight out of the heart with subtle, but essential backings by Arnqvist on the violin. In Lokomo Arnqvist takes the lead and shows that a tenof saxophone can be as tender as a first kiss. Amazing how this duo changes a short melody into a song by making small changes, something that reminds me of Arbete och fritid who did that masterly on their 1977 album Sen dansar vi ut. Siri Karlsson has made one of the best debut albums of this century with pure, warm and perfectly played acoustic folk music. They show a big talent both as musicians and composers.
www.sirikarlsson.com
Eelco Schilder
- FolkWorld Issue 38 03/2009
http://www.groove.se/site/recension.asp?recId=2170&mediumId=1
Publicerad 2008-06-06
Siri Karlsson
Mellan träden
Tombola Records
4 G
Siri Karlsson är en duo bestående av Maria Arnqvist på altsax och Cecilia Österholm på nyckelharpa. Kombinationen sax och nyckelharpa ger naturligtvis ett uttryck som närmar sig folkton, men det finns mycket mer att upptäcka här.
Ibland ger sig musiken iväg på nästan experimentella utflykter som kantas av besök i både jazz- och mer experimentljudande miljöer, men det är ändå oftast folkgreppet som dominerar. Saxen bidrar till att minna om svensk progg, precis som Eric Malmbergs gästande hammond, i allt det folkliga.
Men oavsett hur man kan och vill definiera Siri Karlsson kommer man, trots några mer lite slentrianmässiga passager, inte undan att Mellan träden ofta är så pass trolsk i sin uppenbarelse att det är svårt att motstå den. Den lockar, pockar, fyller ens jazz- och folksjäl med så mycket kärlek och gift att man längtar, trängtar och i trans följer den i spåren varthän den än må vilja locka med en. Lekfullt, skirt och öppet, ofta gemensamt, men sen kommer locktonerna, av respektive instrument, var för sig, viljandes uppmärksamet.
Öppningslåten Nästa Bandhagen är den i sanning perfekta locktonen, och sedan är det bara att låta alla visioner, alla möten och all sommarnatt uppsluka en. Jag bryr mig inte om vad som händer mig, jag bara följer…
Magnus Sjöberg
- Magnus Sjöberg
Publicerad kl 08:39, 23 apr 2008
Utsökt folkmusik
CCCC Siri Karlsson: Mellan träden Tombola Records/0703-14 56 16
Det gnisslar rått från nyckelharpa och Tuomo Haapalas cellospelande bas på vresiga folkmusikvalsen ”Smålands”. Svårdansad trots färg och tonläge från 1970-talets världsmusikpionjärer i proggbandet Arbete & Fritid.
Siri Karlsson är gruppnamnet för allt annat än historielösa saxofonisten Maria Arnqvist och nyckelharpisten Cecilia Österholm.
Med förtjusning leker duon fram sin syn på folkmusik med attityd och frihetsiver.
På ”Nästa Brandhagen” pulsar Eric Malmbergs hammondorgel in som en fläkt från Merits Hemmingssons folkorgelsuccéer från 70-talet. Men mest är tjejerna ensamma om sina idébyggen.
Där skapar de drömska och massiva stämningar som tillsammans blir en utsökt resa med folkmusikens traditionstoner som vägbyggare.
Lars Åbom
Reporter
lars.abom@corren.se
013-28 02 41
- Corren: Lars Åbom
Written in fRoots issue 305, 2008
SIRI KARLSSON
Mellan Träden
Tombola CDTR01 (2008)
Named after a redoubtable psalmodikon playing lady from Småland, Siri Karlsson is the duo of Maria Arnqvist and Cecilia Österholm, an unusual but very natural blending of alto sax and nyckelharpa, elegantly intertwining in velvety low registers on their own and trad tunes, joined for some by Hammond or bass. www.myspace.com/sirikarlsson
© 2008 Andrew Cronshaw
- Andrew Cronshaw
Vous pourrez écouter des extraits des cd ci-dessous sur la webradio TradCan à partir du 23/2, notamment dans la rubrique “nouveautés” à 20h.
les cd du mois
Siri Karlsson : Mellan
träden (Tombola Records
CTR01)
Un sax, un orgue Hammond, un nyckelharpa, une contrebasse et un air de valse. Un mélange de
sonorités inhabituel mais
harmonieux. Une mélodie
curieuse, jolie et dansante
mais inhabituelle aussi, qui évolue en graves ondulations. C’est une composition de la saxophoniste Maria Arnqvist qui, avec Cecilia Österholm
(nyckelharpa), forme le duo suédois Siri Karlsson (du
nom d’une joueuse de psalmodikon 1896-1977) complété ici par deux invités. Maria formée en classique et en jazz, et Cecilia issue du folk composent, improvisent et explorent, construisent des atmosphères denses et évolutives propices au rêve et aussi à la danse puisqu’au moins 5 des 11 morceaux sont des
valses. “Smålands”, un des deux traditionnels, est sans doute le plus expérimental, laissant entrevoir une tradition primitive au travers de chassés-croisés des deux instruments. Original et intéressant, toujours proche de la source folk, ce cd mérite toute votre
attention (www.sirikarlsson.com). - Le Canard Folk, Belgium, March 09
Press info
Reviews:
“Fantastic folk music. Raw energy and improvisation distinguish the duo. An excellent proof of talent.” Nöjesguiden/Metro16/4 2008
“The songs on Mellan Träden, build up a suggestive soundscape where you easily get
lost in dreamy mists of improvisation and rich melodies. It is new and beautiful.”Nya Wermland Tidning 24/4 2008.
“They create dreaming and massive atmospheres which gives you an exquisite journey with traditional folk music as a path.” Corren 23/4 2008.
“They have found a thrilling and dynamic musical interaction.” Unt 16/4 2008.
“I’m instantly trapped by their music” Lira 3:2008
Siri Karlsson is a duo with a personal expression that aims straight for the heart. The music departs from the
core elements of Swedish folk music; captive melodies, improvisation and pure energy. Traditional tunes are
mixed with new compositions, where the arrangements give room for improvisational sound escapes creating
a lyrical, dreamlike and playful musical landscape. Siri Karlsson strives to explore the boundaries of traditional
music, which not only their unusual setting but also their choice of guest musicians show.
Siri Karlsson is Maria Arnqvist, alto saxophone and Cecilia Österholm, key fiddle (nyckelharpa). Their
different musical backgrounds, Maria in classical, jazz and free improvisation and Cecilia in Swedish folk music,
adds to the innovative sound of Siri Karlsson. The duo was formed in 2002 and has among other things toured
in Brazil and West Africa. Mellan träden (In Between Trees) is Siri Karlsson’s debut album. Guest musicians are
Tuomo Haapala, composer and musical innovator on acoustic bass, and Eric Malmberg on hammond organ, known from Sagor & Swing.
- Tombola Records
Discography
Siri Karlsson & Joxaren is a new collaboration, what you hear is a demo soon to be released.
Separate releases:
Siri Karlsson, "Mellan Träden" (in between trees), 2008 (Tombola Records).
Joxaren participates on the following Skweee compilations: "Harmönia presents international Skweee" (Harmönia); Museum of future sound 2 (Folgsta Danshall); Skweee 2 (Ramp Recordings).
Tracks streaming or radio airplay:
Siri Karlsson: Nästa Bandhagen (SR, Last FM, FM's in Australia, NL,US, Belgium); Dyddans Vals (SR P2), Lokomo (SR P2); Konstig (SR P2); Villemo (SR P2)
Joxaren: Lihop (SR), Streaming (Last FM etc): Lihop; Demagogos; Fel i Facit. Video on Youtube: Lihop.
Photos
Bio
Siri Karlsson and Joxaren is a new, exclusive collaboration between the master of Skweee, Joxaren, and Siri Karlsson, the rising stars on the Swedish folk music scene.
What's skweee? Skweee is an underground club movement emerging from Scandinavia and that is now spreading across the world. Its known for its minimalistic, twisted, brute beats, shaking dance floors with its semi-live performances. Joxaren is one of the first Skweee artists.
Siri Karlsson, is a duo with a unique setting of alto saxophone and the Swedish traditional nyckelharpa/key harp. Theyre known for their personal expression that aims straight for the heart. Building on the core elements of Swedish folk music, captive melodies, improvisation and pure energy, they strive to revolt the boundaries of traditional music, which also their choice of guest musicians show. In this case the collaboration with Joxaren.
Siri Karlsson and Joxaren have a history together, but this is the first time they meet musically in this setting. David alias Joxaren was one of the founders of the successful music collective MJM, Moder Jords Massiva (Flora & Fauna), where also Maria/Siri Karlsson was a member. David and Maria has played together in other constellations as well and recently decided on this unique collaboration. Joxaren also has a background in folk music with the band Big Fish. And its amazing, for the first time, to hear a club beat picking up the delicate triple beats of the polska, a typical Swedish traditional rhythm and dance.
Maria and Cecilia/Siri Karlsson, released their debut album last year (April 2008), Mellan Träden/In between trees, that received fantastic reviews in Sweden and lately all over Europe. They started playing as a duo in 2002 when they took off for a tour in Brazil, and later on also West Africa where Maria has toured with several bands. In this exceptional collaboration with Joxaren, Cecilia is the backbone of Swedish folk music, with her two feet in the traditional music of the county of Uppland. With her traditional duo Erika & Cecilia and having recorded with Benny Andersson (Abba) and others, she counts to one of the best key harp players today.
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