Slagr - Short Stories (2015) [Hi-Res]

On „Short Stories“, Slagr give time a sound. Carefully yet relentlessly the Oslo based trio explore what remains when time is passing, and, through doing so, illustrate some of the transient nature of our being.

The inspiration for „Short Stories“ came from a story by Norwegian author Hans Herbjørnsrud: „On an old farmstead in Europe“. The protagonist of the story finds a skull on a field near his farmhouse one day. Through the skull and the story of blind Margjit that is linked to it, he becomes aware of his own life and the continuity of earthly existence.

Slagr take different elements of Herbjørnsrud's story and make them into music. „Gamletun“ is the field by the river that symbolises tranquility side by side with the flow of time. Of course there is „Blinde-Margit“ and her dramatic, long passed story, and there is the nearly forgotten folk song that get reconstructed and deconstructed in „Folkevise“. Condensed moments, made from a bit of eternity.

Anne Hytta on hardanger fiddle, Amund Sjølie Sveen on vibraphone and tuned glasses and cellist Sigrun Eng create finely woven, pulsating structures that seem delicate but provide enough support for all these memories and emotions. The sounds that Slagr work with are ages old, yet timeless. Every now and again the swelling movements make room for a little melody that seems familiar. Then strange sounds step out of the background, only to disappear again shortly after.

This is artful, but always musical and natural. Slagr transcend their folk traditions into an all new genre of their own. There is a reason why people mention names like Philip Glass and Morton Feldman, when they speak about Slagr. „Short Stories“ unites this musical innovation with a lyrical vision and reminds us that our own lives and even the whole of human existence is only but a „Short Story“ in the eternal flow of time.

Anne Hytta, hardanger fiddle
Sigrun Eng, cello
Amund Sjølie Sveen, vibraphone

01. Slagr - Folkevise (6:27)
02. Slagr - Gamletun (6:06)
03. Slagr - Sylvelin (8:09)
04. Slagr - Auga (4:52)
05. Slagr - Blinde-Margit (6:01)
06. Slagr - Årolilja (7:59)
07. Slagr - Lysning (1:13)
08. Slagr - Skare (7:18)