Valravn

“Valravn have an healthy international future in front of them”
* * * * * (5 out of 6) Anders Thomsen, Jyllands Posten, Denmark

“Valravn have since their debut been going from triumph to triumph and they have been clearly growing with their task. The result is this new album, which is simply outstanding.”
* * * * * (5 out of 6) Torben Holleufer, Gaffa, Denmark

“Easily the finest electro-folk hybrid that I've heard in recent years.”
Penguin Eggs, Canada

“No doubt, with this new album Valravn went a level higher”
* * * * (4 out of 5) Jean-Pierre Lhoir, musicinbelgium.net

“They put nerve on the traditional instruments with an extraordinary punk energy. They do it leaving a lot of space of expression to the great voice of Anna Katrin Egilstrød: an explosive scene presence.”
Roberto Gatti, Corriere del Ticino, Switzerland

”The live show is mighty impressive; Egilstrød is a magnificent vocalist, caressing, whispering and howling the songs with magnetic command and energy, and the band has just the right balance of live instruments and intensifying electronics, often including strong visuals.”
Andrew Cronshaw, fRoots, U.K.

“Great energy and fierce vitality. A seriously electrifying link between folk music and the chaos of contemporary rhythmical music has been missing for some time in Denmark. Valravn lights up that old void.”
? ? ? ? (4 out of 6) Kim Skotte, Politiken, Denmark

“A masterpiece. - These are not youngsters who mock dead old instruments, nor nerds on a doomed mission. This is done so whole-heartedly that the ancient heritage feels alive and kicking. Past and present become a beautiful, wild and vivid unity, and you cannot but surrender to Valravn.”
* * * * * (5 out of 6) Dimmalaetting, Faroe Islands

“Easily the finest electro-folk hybrid that I've heard in recent years.” Penguin Eggs, Canada

“An impressive band and a welcome development.” fRoots, England

“This first effort by Valravn is one of the tastiest recent plates of a Scandinavian scene which has set the standards quite high.” www.musicinbelgium.net

”They played the stars from the sky”- as we say in Dutch. It basically means they were beyond awesome.” Heathen Harvest, Holland

“Wonderful performance of VALRAVN. A really pleasant mix of tradition and electronic. And finally the square could dance.” Giornale del Popolo, Switzerland

“They put nerve on the traditional instuments with an extraordinary punk energy. They do it leaving a lot of space of expression to the great voice of Anna Katrin Egilstrød: an explosive scene presence.” Corriere del Ticino, Switzerland
- Various publishers in Europe

"Faroese singer Anna Katrin Eigilstrød howls, cajoles and spits with a slightly Björk-like gamine character to her voice, fiercely relishing the sounds of several Nordic languages (…) Based on traditional Danish, Faroese, Icelandic and Sweedish material (…) it’s a thing of wild-dark textures and, even in the more intimate moments, a feeling of relentless, pulsing forward movement. Things calm a notch in the last track, based on a Faroese traditional kvædi of a betrayed betrothed sailing to Denmark in search of her love-rat who has married another, and it’s worth leaving it running, after its waves swish away, for the untitled "hidden track", whose breathy flute, whispered vocals sneak up as a late surpirse. An impressive band and a welcome development, carrying on an unfinished journey."
fRoots, England

“When too many seem to think putting some stupid “ouncha-ouncha” beatbox on a fiddle air is enough to make modern folk, Valravn flies far away from cheap arrangements. Beats, loops and soundscapes are extremely present, but they are partners with acoustic instruments and voice to create something elaborate and original.
The voice of Anna Katrin Egilstrød is the other major asset of the band. She can be sensual or furious and that girl knows how to use her voice and how to deliberately play with the limits of justness to increase tension, to sound apparently fragile with maestria. The flawless instrumentation backs her up with a frequent use of drones that give a shamanic touch to several tunes. You’ll quickly understand why I think this first effort by Valravn is one of the tastiest recent plates of a Scandinavian scene which has set the standards quite high.”
“To cut a long explanation short, I would recommend this CD both to folkies who are broadminded enough to accept the presence of electronic beats without screaming “blue murder”, as well as to trip-hop people who are tolerant enough to hear it sung in something else than English.”
Laurent Leemans, www.musicinbelgium.net

”Great energy and fierce vitality. Like Danish whirling dervishes, the musical plasma converges naturally around the Faroese singer Anna Katrin Egilstrøđ. When she launches into an Icelandic or Faroese kvæđi, the Danish earthiness and the North Atlanitc hotline really come to boil into a common Nordic past, and do it impressively consistently.
Valravn sounds like a breathless live experience which has very successfully been maintained in the studio. A seriously electrifying link between folk music and the chaos of contemporary rhythmical music has been missing for some time in Denmark. Valravn lights up that old void.”
Kim Skotte, Politiken, Denmark, ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ (out of 6)

Pictures from the Denmark tour 2007, Voxhall, Århus.
Photos by Bo Petersen.
"If you've been missing your daily dose of Nordic heaviness since the demise or dormancy of Sorten Muld, Hedningarna and Gammarna, make tracks to your nearest music emporium and pick up a copy of Valravn ...take their name from the mythic Scandinavian "raven of the slain", an auspicious image. Their music reflects this - a darkly percussive mix of elctronic sculpting and acoustic melodies, wedded to largely traditional Scandinavian songs. But it's not all beat-heavy craziness either - there are moments of peace ... However, the intensity of the music and the atmospheric darkness remain constant. The result is easily the finest electro-folk hybrid that I've heard in recent years."
Richard Thornley, Penguin Eggs, Canada

“It is just impressive how Valravn manage to handle the archaeological excavations into cultural history without falling into simple nostalgia. The gentle digs are performed with respect for the past, but still point towards the future and the present. In other words, it is difficult not to fall head over heels for Valravn who have deftly positioned themselves at the meeting point of past and present, with open and inviting arms.”
Nicolai Bølstad, Soundvenue, Danmark, * * * * * (out of 6)

”Valravn have been around for two years, and their debut album clearly states that they are ready to take their place on the Danish folk/medieval/electronica-throne.”
“Producer Cristopher Juul has created a both spacious and grandiose sound that does not overload on electronica effects and beats, but rather stays loyal to, and elaborates on, the expression that Valravn stands for.”
“The listener is definitely in good company with Valravn.”
Martin Blom Hansen, Rootszone, Danmark - Various publishers