Troka
Smash
NorthSide (www.noside.com)

"Bjork"

Despite the title, this is not one of the head-banging bands to emerge from the growing wave of Scandinavian neo-traditional musicians. This Finnish quintet is an acoustic group composed of two fiddlers, an accordionist, a bassist and a harmonium player (Timo Alakotila, who also plays with the fiddle group JPP and Maria Kalaniemi's Aldargaz). No grunge guitars, and nothing really gets smashed, except maybe some expectations. Troka does not have the mussy-haired, barn-dance spirit of fellow Finns JPP. Troka has a more lyrical and elegant sound. The band plays with a wonderful vibrancy that also separates them from their more stately, string-playing colleagues in chamber music.

This all-instrumental collection is mostly made up of original compositions and explores a range of tempos and textures. The wedding waltz "Sand" conjures up a bridal party gliding across a manicured lawn on an impossibly beautiful day, while "Sodoma" explores starker landscapes and "Summer Night Twist" breezes by like a brisk wind. These talented players and composers smoothly sail the waters between the folk and classical worlds, and could easily charm those looking out for something different from both shores. - Marty Lipp

Audio: "Bjork" (traditional Swedish), from the album Smash (NorthSide)
Copyright 1999 NorthSide