Alwa Alwa Label: Amigo CD No. AMCD747 2002 £9.99 Band from: Sweden Genre: Swedish
Review
Alwa is firmly rooted within the Swedish folk music tradition without being an out and out folk music group. Mere recreation of old traditions is not the main issue here. Their musical mix is truly an eclectic one with a wide spectrum of inspirational sources. Improvisation is an integral and important part of Alwa's sound. Their attitude towards sound and form is somewhat akin to that of the bands of the British folk-rock scene of the seventies when mixing the traditional Nordic material with blues, bluegrass and rock. But they also seamlessly incorporates elements of free jazz, west African Youruba music and Cuban Santeria into their music. Alwa is a band with a rare ability to charge the seemingly stationary with an intensity that at times seem close to implosion.
Alwa's instrumental setting also sets them apart from the standard Swedish folk band; flowing fiddles and soaring vocals on top of a bubbling undertow of percussion, saxophones and guitars.
Tracks and Artists
1. Varför så blek (MP3 884 Kb) 2. Vatten 3. Den sjuttonåriga 4. Nog är världen trotter 5. Knaggel 6. Skingra, öppna! (MP3 880 Kb) 7. Dagen stänger sitt fönster 8. Kulning Lucumí 9. Vildemo (MP3 836 Kb) 10. Visa
Anna Elwing (Vocals, Violin) Jonas Göransson (Guitars) Karin Ohlsson (Violin, Viola) Tina Quartey neé Johansson (Percussion) Torbjörn Righard (Saxophones, Flutes)
British Pounds
