Triakel

Amazon.com
What you might expect is not what you will get on this excellent folk album from Sweden. Emma Härdelin is the striking lead singer from Garmarna, a successful Swedish folk rock band. Janne Strömstedt (harmonium) and Kjell-Erik Eriksson (fiddle) are members of Hoven Droven, a kind of hard-rock-with-brass group with a very heavy sound. These three get together to perform an all-acoustic set of traditional folk songs. The themes are dark: murder, unrequited love, and general human mayhem. Unlike their respective regular bands, they use this trio opportunity to make a direct statement about the music, with no fusion or props--just excellent musicianship, solid arrangements, and a sense of awe for how powerful this material was, and is, on its own. Härdelin is a bold singer whose every nuance colors the stories in these songs. Eriksson's fiddle is strong, bowed with enthusiasm where needed, graceful where necessary. Strömstedt's harmonium (a pump organ) offers a dark, sometimes droning presence--a weighty underpinning that suits these songs perfectly. --Louis Gibson

Triakel,Triakel,Northside Records,Int'l & World Music,Pop,Scandinavian Folk,Swedish Folk,World Music

Average customer rating: Listen to this if you want to learn Swedish - you'll enjoy it...! This music will colonize a portion of your brain...

Songs from 63 Degrees N Triakel Manufacturer: Northside Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Sweden | Scandinavia | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Scandinavia | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music World Dance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Similar Items: Wintersongs: Winter Holiday in Sweden Vittrad Trä God's Musicians Vengeance ASIN: B0002T2Q4W Release Date: 2004-09-14

Tracks:

1. Where D'you Think...?
2. Maclay And Macrae
3. Wee Willie Wattie
4. Little Toe
5. Friends And Neighbors
6. My Pretty Maid
7. The Cruel Mother
8. Trust In God/Steklat
9. The Lover At The Window
10. Now One More Day
11. The Farm Lad Who Cried
12. In Your Father's Footsteps
13. The Dung Beetle's Wedding
14. Young Ricky Rider
15. Farewell To You All
16. Jamtland

Customer Reviews:

Listen to this if you want to learn Swedish - you'll enjoy it...!.......2006-03-08

After growing up with Polka's at the family parties, I was under the impression that was the only purely Swedish music available - Triakel is a pleasant discovery for me.

I found this record who teaches Swedish how I should begin - she said start with music and listen to the words. This record is outstanding for that - I am memorized.

The music is upbeat and well performed - a good mix of old and new adaptations of old. I enjoy listening to this on a regular basis - well worth the price.

This music will colonize a portion of your brain..........2004-10-06

Mark Twain once wrote a short story in which a trolley conductor's rhyming lyric about different color tickets became so ingrained in the narrator's brain that it occupied every waking moment and only receded when he found someone else to take up the ditty and passed it on like something contagious. Well, so am I smitten. Emma Härdelin's clear, haunting vocals - and the fulsome instrumental backing of Kjell-Erik Eriksson and Janne Strömstedt - have colonized a portion of my brain and won't let it go. I wake up in the middle of the night hearing Emma's lovely voice singing the rather naughty "Älskaren i gluggen" - about a young woman whose lullaby to her child by an open window is also a warning to her lover that her husband is at home. Or the slightly mysterious sounding "Lihll-Pe i Floa." Or a song about toes and life, or... almost every other track on this CD. Incidentally, Emma's father is Thore Härdelin - perhaps the most celebrated fiddler in all of Sweden.

I wasn't totally sure I liked the record the first time I listened, but something pulled me back in. Then again. And again, like an addiction. Now I can't get enough of Emma and the gang. I am in love. I should confess a bias. I am a second generation American of Swedish descent with all four grandparents having been born in the old country. And so there may be a genetic attraction to the unique scandinavian musical blend of minor and major keys that co-exist in any given song in the most captivating ways. But I guarantee that any folk-music lover - and I'm talking about the genuine article, not watered down commercial stuff - will adore this body of work. I am ordering Triakel's other two CD's and can't wait for them to arrive. At which point, every waking moment... Unless YOU buy the CD and like Mark Twain's conductor, I find some peace having passed it on!

Average customer rating:

Songs from 63 Degrees N Triakel Manufacturer: Vivid Sound ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Sweden | Scandinavia | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Scandinavia | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B0006NLISO Release Date: 2005-01-04

Tracks:

1. Veit
2. N'lars Och N'mas
3. Lihl-Pe I Floa
4. Lilltaa Tatilla
5. Grannar Och Vanner
6. Min Docka
7. Barnamor Derskan
8. Guds Fruktan/Steklat
9. Alskaren I Gluggen
10. Nu Haver Denna Dag
11. Den Gratane Drangen
12. Bli Som Far
13. Tordyveln/ Polska
14. Langmasaguten
15. Farval Alla Vanner
16. I Jamtlann
17. Innan Gryningen (Bonus Track)

Album Details

Japanese Release featuring a Bonus Track

Average customer rating:

Wintersongs: Winter Holiday in Sweden Triakel Manufacturer: Northside Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Sweden | Scandinavia | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Scandinavia | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Pop Vocal | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Pop Vocal | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Similar Items: Songs from 63 Degrees N ASIN: B00005NBX0 Release Date: 2001-10-09

Tracks:

1. Julvisa Fran Alvdalen (Christmas Carol from Alvdalen)
2. Bergslagsjul (Christmas In The Mining District)
3. Er Framtid Blive Lyckelig (Good Fortune And Joy)
4. Staffansiva From Orust
5. Innan Gryningen (The Silence Of The Dawn)
6. Torspar-julaftas-vaggvisa (The Crofter's Christmas Eve Lullaby)
7. God Morgon Har, Kar Fader Var (Good Morning To You, Master Dear)
8. Det Blir En Julhelg Glad (A Joyful Christmas It Will Be)
9. Julvisa I Finnmarken (Christmas In The Finnmark)/Isfarden
10. Staffansvisa From Jamtland
11. Adventspsalm (Advent Hymn)
12. Mormors Julstjarna (Grandma's Christmas Star)
13. Knalle Juls Vals (The Christmas Tree Seller's Waltz)
14. Julgranspolska (The Christmas Tree Polska)
15. Tackvisan (Thank You Song)

Amazon.com

The second CD from the Swedish acoustic trio Triakel features Christmas compositions and other winter songs, including a New Year's hymn, an Advent hymn, and an Epiphany song. Comprised of Emma Härdelin (vocals), Janne Strömstedt (harmonium), and Kjell-Erik Eriksson (fiddle), Triakel perform gentle, pastoral numbers that are just the right length and that blend together smoothly. Even the more uptempo tracks, like the two staffansvisas from Orust and Jämtland, are low-key enough to maintain the graceful, gentle vibe of the whole album. If you're seeking something soothing, or are simply tired of traditionally grandiose Xmas fare, Triakel's Wintersongs offers a tranquilizing aural elixir. --Bryan Reesman

Average customer rating:

Triakel Triakel ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Folk | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Scandinavia | Europe | International | Styles | Music Folk | Imports | Stores | Music International | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00003NH88 Release Date: 2007-05-22

Tracks:

1. Old Sara
2. In Paradise
3. Last Year
4. Thousand Thoughts
5. Miller's Son-In-Law
6. Unexpected Wedding-Guest
7. All Day Long You're on My Mind
8. Birthday Party
9. All the Young Men
10. Lapp-Nils Polska
11. Lion and the Bride
12. Fair Young Love

Average customer rating: Spellbinding and (I must agree) Haunting haunting, haunting stuff what a nice surprise (and better than the parent bands, too) It's better than that Unexpectedly fun music comes from this unusual ensemble.

Triakel Triakel Manufacturer: Northside Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Sweden | Scandinavia | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Scandinavia | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Scandinavia | Europe | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Songs from 63 Degrees N Wintersongs: Winter Holiday in Sweden God's Musicians ASIN: B00000BIIP Release Date: 1998-09-15

Tracks:

1. Old Sara
2. In Paradise
3. Last Year
4. A Thousand Thoughts
5. The Miller's Son-In-Law
6. The Unexpected Wedding-Guest
7. All Day Long You're On My Mind
8. The Birthday Party
9. All The Young Men
10. Lapp-Nils Polska
11. The Lion And The Bride
12. A Fair Young Love

Amazon.com

What you might expect is not what you will get on this excellent folk album from Sweden. Emma Härdelin is the striking lead singer from Garmarna, a successful Swedish folk rock band. Janne Strömstedt (harmonium) and Kjell-Erik Eriksson (fiddle) are members of Hoven Droven, a kind of hard-rock-with-brass group with a very heavy sound. These three get together to perform an all-acoustic set of traditional folk songs. The themes are dark: murder, unrequited love, and general human mayhem. Unlike their respective regular bands, they use this trio opportunity to make a direct statement about the music, with no fusion or props--just excellent musicianship, solid arrangements, and a sense of awe for how powerful this material was, and is, on its own. Härdelin is a bold singer whose every nuance colors the stories in these songs. Eriksson's fiddle is strong, bowed with enthusiasm where needed, graceful where necessary. Strömstedt's harmonium (a pump organ) offers a dark, sometimes droning presence--a weighty underpinning that suits these songs perfectly. --Louis Gibson

Customer Reviews:

Spellbinding and (I must agree) Haunting.......2001-11-02

This is traditional Swedish music stripped down to its absolutely gorgeous acoustic roots. Featuring members of Hoven Droven and Garmarna's lead vocalist, these are musicians who live very much in the 21st century. The restrained approach and the loving touch they show here makes clear how much they respect the older musical traditions. There seems to be a plethora of overly-sentimentalized acoustic traditional music out there... one is well-advised to be on guard against this. Triakel play with passion and intensity as well as reverence, bringing this music to life. They are a fantastic band live, especially in intimate venues.

Using only harmonium, violin and voice, Triakel creates a musical atmosphere of remarkable depth and texture. The melodies are hauntingly beautiful. Emma Hardelin's voice is magical and really flourishes in the intimate Triakel arrangements. Highly recommended.

haunting, haunting stuff.......2001-01-14

I have been a fan of both Garmarna and Hoven Droven for some time. And every once in a while, in both groups' albums, it feels like there's too much going on... maybe my stereo can't quite figure out all the incredible background drones...

But this combination of the two bands is incredible in its pared-down simplicity. Emma Hordelin's voice comes through and above the incredibly warm tones of the harmonium, clear, and clean. There are few frills on this album and that's what makes it beautiful. Where, by contrast, for example, Garmarna is doing impressive things with tape-loops and sampled sounds, this album has a distilled, almost crystalline quality.

For want of a better adjective, this is a haunting album. The melodies stay with you like long-lost friends, always somewhere in the shadow of your memory.

what a nice surprise (and better than the parent bands, too).......2000-02-18

i can't say i know much about folk music, my exposure to it being limited to the irish stuff with which my parents used to assail me as a child and nick drake / tim buckley's extractions. so, while i can't vouch for the sense of authenticity that has become such a commodity in the last few years (and this album appears to have it in spades), i can certainly kick in my four stars for triakel's excellent, `timeless' sounds. the first thing to strike you, after the singer's unforgettable vocal stylings (when i heard `the birthday party' on npr for the first time, i was certain it was a garmarna song), is the backing musicians' skill at arrangement. the mix is very dynamic and remarkably full, considering their instrumentation; the package as a whole is a powerful statement and a welcome relief from the rote machinations of contemporary music.

if you're keen on nick cave's `the boatman's call' or the dirty three, you'll find this album a delight. i'd certainly recommend it to fans of nick drake's `pink moon' or even this mortal coil, since triakel sports the same weird, starkly uplifting vibe that those other performers have.

lastly, i had the fortune to see triakel for free last night at the chicago cultural center. they sounded just as compelling live - no studio tricks here, emma's vocals were spot-on every time......

It's better than that.......1999-03-17

The other reviews of this CD are accurate enough, except that it's better than 3/5. Although North American listeners start out not knowing the songs at all, they come to seem like songs you've known since childhood. The whole sound and atmosphere of the music appears "self-evident", as if this is not something new in your collection, but something that must always have existed, according to the laws of music. I hope Triakel will continue as a project for these three performers - this CD is one of my happiest musical finds in many months, and I want more of it.

Unexpectedly fun music comes from this unusual ensemble........1998-10-07

The other review here pretty much said it all for this album's music, but I would like to add comments on several aspects of the work. First, you will be amazed at how versatile an instrument the harmonium is; we expect it to be corny--and when need be, it is--but it can also be quite gothic or even rocking. Second, when you get this CD, give it one listen without reading the lyrics, and try to guess what the songs are about. You will startled by the gruesomeness of some of the lyrics, especially those which flow to bright, cheery tunes. Third, I want to applaud Alistir Cochrane, who translated the lyrics. The translations rhyme and scan to the tunes, thus making the songs accessible to English-speaking artists who want to borrow them. Fourth, I want to say that harmonium, fiddle, and voice work together much better than you ever would have thought.

World Music:

1. Vado Via [Import]
2. Vinicius & Odette Lara [Import]
3. Zampoña Romántica, Vol. 1 [Import]
4. Zenith de Gainesbourg [Import]
5. 20 Super Sucessos V.2 [Import]
6. 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of India [Original recording remastered]
7. A Taste of Salsa CD
8. A Tribute to Stesha: The Russian-Gypsy Diva
9. Acustico [Import]
10. Against the Clown [Import]

World Music

world music

World Music

Statecraft

7 Popular Spanish Songs

Adagio, Vol. 2: The Sound of Silence

Jazz Music: 1949-1951

A Trip in Lounge, Vol. 2

#1 Hits: The 60's Decade

Addio mia bella Napoli [Import]

99 Luftballons

Alter Echo

A View From the Ground

Advisory Committee

20 Jinkaku [Import]

2 Much Drama [Clean]

Mozart at Midnight

The Ultimate Nina Simone