About the CD and ensemble:
Per Gudmundson / violin, bagpipe, vocals
One of Sweden's most appreciated and respected folk musicians, both individually and in collaboration with various ensembles. His musical foundation is in the violin style of Rättvik, Dalarna. Per has also contributed in a constructive way to the rebirth of the Swedish bagpipe tradition.
Ale Möller / mandola, flutes, harp, vocals
A multifaceted musician who through various detours found his way back to Swedish traditional music where he has become a central figure in the search for new timbres and forms of expression. With sensitive interplay together with various folk musicians he has introduced new instruments into the traditional genre alongside his delving into the usage of older instruments used in the folk music practice such as various flutes and bagpipes, to mention a few. Ale has also made a name for himself as a barrier breaker between Swedish folk music and other genres from different parts of the world.
Lena Willemark / vocals, violin, flute
One of Sweden's greatest singers, deeply rooted in the folk music tradition of Älvdalen in Dalarna. This region's unique musical tradition and repertoire is something she cultivates both as a violinist and most of all as a uniquely distinctive vocalist undeterred by genre labels. Lena Willemark's significance as a trend setter and source of inspiration for the new generation of folk music singers cannot be overstated.
A new Frifot album is always an event. Their latest CD, ”Sluring” from 2003, was awarded a Swedish Grammy as well as the independent Manifest prize for best folk album. Now it's time again. The new new offering from the trio Per Gudmundson, Ale Möller och Lena Willemark ”Flyt” is also a celebration of twenty years as a band. ”Flyt” is made up of the usual Frifot mix of vocal and instrumental as well as traditional and new material.
The band was founded in 1987 after some years of nosing about, Lena Willemark and Per Gudmundson with their similar background in the folk music scene of Dalarna, were aware of each other since the early 70s. When Ale Möller moved to Dalarna in the mid 80s, the three started to play together in different constellations. Out of these meetings the trio Möller/Willemark/Gudmundson was born.
Their first album titled” Frifot”, on the Caprice label, was released in 1991, the title soon adopted as the name of the band. Yet another album for Caprice, ”Järven”, was released in 1996. It was followed by the (once again) epynoumosly titled album ”Frifot” on the ECM label, an album with a bigger, more produced sound than before. On”Sluring” for Amigo in 2003 the trio returned to a more stripped-down sound again. The new album takes this even further. The circle complete, Frifot has returned the roots, to a rougher, more groove focused sound. The trio who has produced the new album together with their live technician of many years and tours, Sigge Krantz, has worked extensivley with mike positioning and different room acoustics, the final result a fiddle as well as a group sound of a very certain rondeur.
Frifot