Turkka and Paalanen
Halituli
The artists, Eero Turkka (harmonica) and Antti Paalanen (melodeon and accordion) say: 'Our musical path together begun in the early 21th century at the Sibelius Academy Folk Music Department and the Eurofolk Conference. Nowadays we play Finnish and Nordic traditional tunes with joy and a delicate response. Our repertoire also includes our own compositions, where we let an ardent, sentimental mood combine with our original musical humor. We always try to leave the door open for the creative lunacy and the impulses of a moment. Our first album was made in the spirit of a jam session. Some of the tunes were recorded from the first take and no 'wrong sounds' were patched up in afterwards.'
Bellowhead
Burlesque
I have tried to tone down the prose to write this description, but what can I do? This is a remarkable recording, a shock to the sytem. fROOTS' Colin Erwin calls it "Astonishing!" It's Brecht meets Childe in Copeland's backyard, chats with Coltrane and dances with brass monkeys. This 11 piece band of notorious trad-arr hipsters (including Spiers and Boden and Benji Kirkpatrick) plays accordions, fiddles and such, punched into high gear by brass band and strings, and all manner of exceptional strangeness ensues. It's all traditional, in a sense, but like nothing you have heard before. Bonus: the package is a small, lovely hardcover book with lyrics, photos (wild!) and more.
Tummel
Oy!
This Nordic klezmer unit is based in Malmö, Sweden and Copenhagen, Denmark, and their agressive style of playing the music is fresh and interesting. This is their first release, 2001, that started it all.
Ambrogio Sparagna
Ambrogio Sparagna
Another great recording from the Italian organetto (accordion) player, with a fine cast of guests including Francesco De Gregori, Teresa De Sio, Rita Marcotulli, Lucilla Galeazzi, Francesco Di Giacomo
Maria Kalaniemi
Bellow Poetry
Maria K's 2005 release is a solo recording that examines the potential of accordion in the Finnish rune song and lament tradition. Highly recommended.
Fabian Beghin and Didier Laloy
Cryptonique
The record label says: 'This extraordinary duo presents a new repertoire based on the meeting between the chromatic and diatonic accordion. Didier Laloy plays lyrically, but and with a lot of swing. He is reserved and dynamic, but always subtle, with an eye for the smallest details. Fabian Beghin has his own dynamic sound with a wide scope on the world. Together they search for the perfect marriage between the force of Beghin's accordéon chromatique and the lyrical poetry of Laloy's diatonque. A cutting edge adventure.'
The Bluelights
Rub That Rhythm
They call it 'Roots Music In Overdrive' and while this might be a jug band in some sense, they have moved past the strict definition in this new recording, offering rock, rockabilly and R'n'B in the mix, as well. Folk and blues legend Eric Von Schmidt calls them 'absolutely the best since Kweskin's Jug Band... traditional music in overdrive.'
Nara
Om
Nåra is the trio of Gunnel Mauritzson (vocals), Björn Ståbi (fiddle), Bengan Janson (accordion). This is their second recording, a wonderful mix of old roots and new ideas centered on the timeless themes of love and life, by three of Sweden's most respected musicians.
