Karelia Visa

Hedningarna return to their full Finnish-Swedish lineup with Karelia Visa, bringing back the Finnish voices of Sanna Kurki-Suonio and Anita Lehtola. For much of their career they have explored the runesongs of ancient Finland, particularly in the area called Karelia that straddles the Russian border. This album goes into the oldest Karelian traditions by collecting tunes and lyrics in the old Russian villages that still speak the old language and sing the old songs. Not that this is a traditional album in any way. In typical "heathen" style, the band reinterprets freely and inventively, pulling instruments from many Nordic and northern European countries, adding technology carefully but conspicuously, crafting an electric folk music that stays carefully out of the rock realm and holds true to the folk process. This album follows closely the powerful path created on Kaksi!, the first Hedningarna album to explore the deeper Finno-Ugric roots of the eastern border regions. It is less violent and aggressive, but also darker and more contemplative. The brief historical notes are sufficient, and all the songs are well translated, an important element for a recording that relies heavily on content that very few people (even modern Finns) could understand on their own. --Louis Gibson