Geitungen – Bra kast

Rewarded for the best experimental/open album of the year
at the Norwegian Folk Music Awards 2005!

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Tracks:

1. Den Drøymde (waltz after Svein P. Eikeland)
2. Hopsar (after Ivar Fuglestad)
3. Vals (waltz by Vidar)
4. Tveitaslåtten (springar after Olav J. Bråtveit)
5. Gudmunddansen (hopsar after Ivar & Trygve Fuglestad)
6. Bruraslag (bridal tune after Trygve Fuglestad)
7. Hopsar (by Vidar)
8. Reinlendar (after Olav J.Bråtveit) / Fenteril (reel by Vidar)
9. Vil du vera med og følgja gamlå ner i gravå? (reinlender after Nils Nes)
10. Hopsar (after Ivar Fuglestad)
11. Springar (after Hans Risa Johnsen)
12. Halling (after Johannes J. Tveitane)
13. Springar (after Trygve Fuglestad)
14. Brautaslåtten (waltz after Olav J. Bråtveit)
15. Torbjørnvalsen (waltz after Ivar Fuglestad)

Credits:

Geitungen:
Håvard Ims: melodeon (track 1-5, 8-12)
Olav Christer Rossebø: fiddle (track 5, 8, 10, 13), mandola (track 6-7, 12, 14), guitar (track 1-4, 9),
Vidar Skrede: hardanger fiddle (track 1, 4, 7, 12, 14), fiddle (track 2, 5, 8-9, 13, 15) , guitar (track 1-4, 9),

Guest: Vegar Vårdal: guest fiddle on track 5, 8, & 13.

All tracks arranged by Geitungen

Recording studio: Grieghallen Lydstudio, Bergen, Norway
Sound engineer: Pytten
Producer: Vegar Vårdal
Mastering: Audun Strype, Strype Audio
Cover design: Grandpeople
Photo: Hanna Jordan
Text author: Gaute Sortland

Production was fonded by: Fond for utøvende kunstnere, Fond for lyd og bilde, Rådet for folkemusicc og folkedans, Norsk folkemusikkfond, Haugesund Mållag og ungdomslag

Press release (by Grappa/Heilo):

An original approach to the tradition of Rogaland.

The group Geitungen presents music from their home area: tunes from Bjerkreim, Suldal, Jelsa and Karmøy, presented with an original approach of rhythmic and catchy arrangements. Though the arrangements might not be as their sources played them, the group portrays a strong foothold in the tradition from Rogaland.

This is the second of three releases by the trendsetting trio from Rogaland. Their ability to be true to the core music at the same time as being truly original has made tunes from this record classics on the Norwegian folk music jam scene.

‘Bra kast’ contains waltz, reinlendar, hopsar (the local version of “polka”), halling and springar: the most common tune types in Rogaland. Some original tunes are also to be found, as well as a bridal tune. Produced by Vergar Vårdal, also acting as a refreshing guest artist on a few tracks.

Reviews:

Rootsworld.com

Hailing from Rogaland in the southwest of Norway, this young trio has its feet firmly planted in the traditional music of that area. This is their second album if you don’t count the little demo that preceded their debut, Vaniljesaus. Using the basic ingredients of fiddle, guitar, and accordion, they conjure up a sweet, unaffected sound. None of the three is a flashy player, but as a unit, they have the driving skills to keep toes tapping.

Håvard Ims’ work on accordion is sure-footed and rhythmic. He nimbly tackles off-kilter meters on “Halling” and keeps it sweet and simple on the waltzes.

Viðar Stefán Berntsson Skrede (got names?) anchors things with his able fiddle and Hardanger playing. His work on “Springar” and “Brautaslåtten” has an atavistic feel, drony and modal.

Olav Christer Rossebø is light-fingered and squeaky clean on mandolin, mandola, and guitar. He has a lovely mandola solo on “Bruraslag,” giving the piece the feel of a Renaissance pavane.

The overall sound strikes a fine balance between delicacy and drive. The dancier pieces have a nice swing to them, and the slower numbers are tender without being overwrought. They don’t stray into the avant-garde arrangements, atonality, and extended chords so favored by many Scandinavian bands out there. Keeping it close to tradition and close to the vest works for this group right now. As all three are in their mid-twenties, it will be interesting to see how they develop as they mature.

– Peggy Latkovich

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fRoots issue 273, 2006

Fiddle, hardingfele, mandola, guitar and melodeon, and the important foot-stamp; Haugesund quartet gelling well in a lively and well-chosen set of Norwegian dance tunes including springar, hopsar, reinlender, halling and waltz, played with spirited lift and – a given if one gets to make an album on a Norwegian trad label – mastery.

– Andrew Cronshaw

Selected tracks on Soundcloud: