Celtic/ Nordic Folk

[GeorD]

Recently I've started enjoying Nordic Folk a lot. It touches something tribal and hypnotic deep within, similarly to what Progressive Trance can do to me, but with more focus on the intimacy and the experience rather than on intricate sound design and arrangement.

However, Heilung as an absolutely INCREDIBLE sound designer and mixer on stage doing live sound effects, bringing a lot of Trancy elements (stuttering vocal beds for instance) to the mix, resulting in some very charged atmospheres. And somehow it's all quite balanced.

So I wonder what the general opinion is over here?


Tip: the second half of Elddansurin has some incredible harmonies.

 

[Parysatis]

I have seen Heilung live on stage and I have all their albums on vinyl, a very cool band.

 

[GeorD]

That must have been amazing, it's definitely on my list to see them live at least once!

 

[Katadunkass]

Finally some good fucking music

 

[Parysatis]

That must have been amazing, it's definitely on my list to see them live at least once!

It was a memorable evening, the concert was sold out. The people there were completely different from those at Trance, Techno or Psytrance events, most of them from the metal, medieval, gothic or Neo-Pagan scene. The program was similar to their live album Lifa - Heilung Live at Castlefest. They played In Maidjan:, for example. Though this video is from another concert, it catches the vibe nicely:



Here is another video from the same concert:



Maria Franz is an incredible singer. The sound was ok for the location where I saw them ...
They are on tour right now and I will see them soon again. Yay!

 

[Parysatis]

Kalandra is another band which I have seen live. I was surprised how good they sounded on stage, just beautiful! At the concert I bought their album Kingdom Two Crowns: Norse Lands Soundtrack, which is more ambient-like and very beautiful.




Eikþyrnir is a stag in Norse mythology. He stands on the roof of Valhalla and gnaws at the branches of the tree Læraðr. In the Lay of Grímnir of the Edda it says:
"From his horn antlers it drips to Hvergelmir. That is where all the streams come from ..."

 

[GeorD]

Thank you for sharing more of your experiences! So far I've mainly listened to their live versions, they capture an atmosphere the studio versions just cannot for me, and that's why I know I have to see them live some day. And indeed, Maria is incredible, how she can switch so easily between all those styles . Ooh I'm jealous you'll visit them again, haha! They visit around here too, but I was too late sadly.

That ambient side of Kalandra I also really like, thanks for sharing!

 

[Jetflag]

dunno if this counts, but i've always considered Enya/ Clannad to be template Celtic music.