Annbjørg Lien – Janus (Heilo, 2022)
Composer, fiddler, and Norwegian folk music innovator Annbjørg Lien has released a superb new album titled “Janus”. The acclaimed fiddler plays the Hardanger fiddle inspired by Norwegian folk music traditions while at the same time she incorporates captivating modern arrangements and influences from other genres such as Celtic, Americana, rock and jazz.
The outstanding original material composed by Annbjørg Lien for “Janus” is inspired by a reexamination of the folk music tradition of Setesdal, in southern Norway. In 2020, Annbjørg Lien became the project manager for UNESCO Setesdal, a tradition she has a special relationship with. The project explores essential characteristics in Hardanger fiddle music and how these can serve as tools when composing new pieces.
Annbjørg says about the masterfully crafted album: “Janus captures the act of simultaneously looking backward and forward, evoking doorways which can symbolize endings and new beginnings in a musical exploration process”.
“Janus” features Annbjørg Lien on hardanger fiddle, vocal; Mathilde Grooss Viddal on bass clarinet; Roger Tallroth on 12-strings guitar, tenor guitar and octave mandolin; Knut Reiersrud on resonator guitar, acoustic and electric guitars, Weissnborn Hawaiian lapsteel and harmonica; Bjørn Ole Rasch on harmonium, Mellotron, and additional keyboards; Tellef Kvifte on bagpipe and Low D whistle; Per Elias Drabløs on electric bass; Knut Nesheim Kvifte on percussion, drums, and vibraphone; Jan Inge Nilsen on drums.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.