The Erlend Viken Trio is a trio with a rather unorthodox lineup: fiddle (multiple varieties), electric guitar and double bass. So there is no shortage of strings. Nor is there a lack of ideas. Fiddler Erlend Viken and co. make the rather diverse influences in their music sound astonishingly authentic - whatever that word means in this context. Scandinavian folk is linked to Celtic music (Nedrelid),
… which heads toward Ireland and - across the pond - to bluegrass. Also pentatonic the group knows how to express itself excellently, which in turn sounds bluesy and sometimes West African (Suldal). With their intense and mysterious melodies (Forslund), the group seemingly moves into Middle Eastern territory. This may sound like a mishmash on paper, but that absolutely cannot be said of the album Fete Slåtta (Fat Hay). The three creative musicians play beautifully together and their instruments form an uncommon but wonderful combination. (JV)more
