Helene Blum - Liden Sol

Since it hasn’t been that long since Helene Blum’s first real solo album, which had taken several years to record, the appearance of this is a pleasant surprise. More than pleasant, in fact. She uses the musicians from the touring band she shares with her husband, the remarkable fiddler Harald Haugaard (who here also plays some nifty octave mandolin and even contributes a brief vocal, which might well be a first for him).

Much of the material is older, although not from the folk tradition per se, with the exception of the “Julefest” set. Whatever the source, it’s treated with infinite care and beautifully arranged, with the two originals being standouts – “Decembernat” is a beautiful a song as any around and would make an excellent single. There are plenty of little delights here, such as the octave mandolin hook on “Gennem Mary Og Ben” are the lovely delicacy of “Der Er Noget I Luften.” Drawn from so many sources, the sense of continuity between tracks speaks volumes for the work that’s gone into this, making it extremely cohesive. And keep it going for the hidden 10th track that offers a breathtaking mandolin solo.

Dreamers Circus

The debut from this Danish/Swedish trio might be short – it’s just a five track EP – but it bristles with ideas and confidence. Rather tan a new venture it seems as if they’ve been playing together for years. The compositions from Ale Carr are little gems, but it’s the arrangements that give hints at the real maturity here. They’re not a vehicle for any single musicians, but for the band working as a whole. The mix of piano, violin and cittern works surprisingly well and gives them the range to encompass everything from folk to jazz and even into the sort of modern chamber music that’s so European. Yet there’s a real intimacy to everything, a warmth and friendliness. A couple of guests help out, with loveliest contribution coming from Sofia Karlsson, whose gentle, wordless singing on “Idas Farväl” beautifully summing up the melancholy of the track. This is a band with a great future. It’s not folk, it’s not something that sits easily in any pigeonhole. It’s just good music.