Barbora Xu – Olin Ennen

I regret missing this release from our friends at Nordic Notes! Barbora Xu is a Czech singer and multi-instrumentalist who explores local poetry, string instruments, and vocal techniques in her music. According to her official biography, “Her work is deeply inspired by nature, capturing the calmness, fragility, and softness found Continue Reading

Hadal Sherpa – Void Weaver

Many thanks to the Finnish instrumental prog-rock/Neo-Krautrock band Hadal Sherpa for sending me notice about their latest release, Void Weaver. The music definitely reminds me of the heavier, weirder, more Buddhist/cannabis-ladern sound that would have fit in well during the late 1960s and early 1970s as music for Krautheads on Continue Reading

Johanna Juhola – A Brighter Future

What a joyous release this is!  Accordion-based music out of Finland is just what the doctor ordered for our chilly Beijing day.  Johanna Juhola is one of many incredible artists on the Nordic Notes imprint who have blown my mind this year.  Imagine a collection ranging from traditional music melded Continue Reading

Santeri Dobrynin, Egor Masaltsev, Olga Plekhanova – Karjalan Jouhikko: Karelian Instrumental Music

This release from our friends at Antonovka Records features three players of the jouhikko, a local stringed instrument: Santeri (Alexander) Dobrynin and Olga Plekhanova from Karelia and Russian Egor Masaltsev, who moved to the region.  There are 22 tracks of charming interplay between the three and individually.  All the tunes Continue Reading