s e a n

Vintervals is a compilation spanning the career of Swedish ensemble Filarfolket, who for lack of better terminology could be described as a folk-rock band. Most of the material is written by multi-instrumentalist Abe Moeller or string-player Katarina Olsson, although there are some traditionals arranged by the band as well. Everything is performed on acoustic instruments, with nary an amp in sight, and the material is entirely instrumental. Although the Northside label has featured many Scandinavian bands plying a similar trade in the past decade, I am actually more reminded of Ramlosa Kvallar, a folkish Samla offshoot from the late 70s. Prog fans will be happy to know that this material provides opportunities for musical elements they will enjoy, such as odd meters (9/8 in the opening cut), shifting meters, and... nah, this isn't prog. Just deal with it. There is a mixture of styles across the 19 tracks, from uptempo "party" reel-type numbers, to pastoral interludes with more than a touch of melancholy (which I love), to goofball novelties (which I don't). Filarfolket is a fine entry on the folky side of the Scandinavian scene, and those into the many bands in the Northside scene would do well to check them out. review by Sean McFee — 4-6-03 —

j o e

Filarfolket was a band of Swedish roots musicians who were in existence for one decade. Beginning as a loose-knit pool of musicians and gradually evolving into a regular sextet, they released four studio albums: Birfilarmusik från Malmö (1980; no band name at that point), Utan Tvekan (1982), Hönsafötter Och Gulerötter (1983), and Smuggel (1988), as well as one Live album (1985). They toured Sweden and other nearby locales in Europe, and eventually made it as far as Fairport Convention's famed Cropredy festival in England, before quietly disbanding at the turn of the next decade. Vintervals is a compilation of their finest moments, mostly drawn from Live and Smuggel. The core music drips Sweden at every turn, conjuring up images of snow, sun, and strawberries. To spice things up, however, Filarfolket also incorporated instruments that fell outside the bounds of their native folk, most particularly through Möller's bouzouki, Källman's sax, and Johanssen's Brazilian percussion. The musicianship is first-rate throughout; Möller, in addition to being the main writer and vocalist of the band, can play bouzouki, trumpet, accordion, and harmonica with equal ease. Throw all these elements together with some very intricate musical arrangements, and you have a product that has the potential to appeal to many progressive listeners. While the traditional polskas and sparse, introverted pieces are merely serviceable, I feel the band really makes their mark with their original material and more energetic numbers. From the start on this disc, Katarina Olsson's beautiful "Tårtan" hits the listener in the face like a blast of spearmint. As Olsson and Ellika Frisell's robust, vibrant violins broadly skate around the piece's jittery beat, it's as if you've been transported to the hills of Vermont, ready for a day of sapping the maples. "Rockan" and "Tuffepolska," also both from Olsson, present darker and brighter shades, respectively, on the "Tårtan" template at the disc's close. My favorite track on this compilation is "Slangen," a simple tune that grooves along culminating in an uplifting sing-a-long in the chorus, with band members throwing in little improvisatory nuances on their instruments with each verse-chorus repetition. True to most folk acts, the band also provides lighter moments, mostly drawn from their album of nursery rhymes, Hönsafötter Och Gulerötter. "Se Makaroni," with a rather goofy cheer and carnival sound, seems like the dorky and sober younger cousin of The Pogues' "Fiesta." The whimsical "Rida Ranka" also displays the band's potential for intricate vocal arrangements, although the majority of the work on this compilation is instrumental. Since disbanding, many of Filarfolket's members have continued in music, most notably Möller and Johannson, who later resurfaced on the ECM label in collaboration with other prominent Swedish musicians. I really enjoyed this disc and prog fans into acoustic and folk stylings would do well to give Filarfolket a chance. If you're curious, pictured in the CD booklet (l-r): Ringdahl, Bomgren, Olsson, Johansson, Möller, and Källman. review by Joe McGlinchey — 1-8-03 —