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.
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