With another week of almost zero new releases across the Nordics, which are enjoying their extended holiday period again, I took a look back at some of the emails received that we were simply unable to deal with previously this year.
One of them was from Alterne, a Danish trio we featured several times a few years ago. Alterne comprises Ida Marie Jessen, Oscar Beerten and Maimu Jõgeda.
In May they released a live music video of a song called ‘Eivo’, of which I can’t find any evidence of an earlier release so we’ll treat it as a new one.
The video was recorded at the historic brick factory Cathrinesminde Teglværk on Broagerland, at the very South of Denmark. We used to have brick factories in England. One of them was at Stewartby in Bedfordshire and it was so big (the biggest in the world in fact) that it was used as a marker point for pilots flying around the area (I learned to fly there). You couldn’t miss it.
But it succumbed to environmentalism – it produced too much sulphur dioxide. It was eventually knocked down and will eventually be replaced, believe it or not, by a Universal theme park.
The English seemingly care little for their brick factories but the Danes do. ‘Eivo’ explores modern dating culture, where relationships often feel fleeting and non-committal, and where it can be difficult to express expectations without fear of being “too much.” Is that an interpretation of the Jante Law that is prevalent in Scandinavia and which promotes strict humility?
Anyway, I can’t think of many places more appropriate than a brickworks to convey the idea of being non-committal.
Musically, it is complex, like an Irish jig in parts and a medieval power ballad in others; jaunty and pleasant on the ear throughout. Ida Marie looks like she’s playing a washboard but it is a kantele, the national instrument of Finland.
The visual universe unfolds by way of two dancers in balloon costumes, moving among the old brick buildings, creating a contrast between the ‘light and playful’ and the ‘heavy and committed.’ The former wins I would suggest.
And those balloons make them look like Peter Gabriel’s ‘Slipperman’ from ‘The Lamb lies down on Broadway’.
Well on reflection perhaps that’s a slight exaggeration!
Another very listenable offering from Alterne that confirms that traditional acoustic music is alive and kicking.
Music by Alterne:
Voice and Kantele: Ida Marie Jessen
Hardingfele and voice: Oscar Beerten
Accordion, stomp box and voice: Maimu Jõgeda
Dancer: Nana Anine Jørgensen
Dancer: Lucas Kruse Kristiansen
Find them on:
Website: https://www.alternemusic.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alternemusic/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alternemusic/
