Rune Grammofon (label)
11 September 2006 (released)
08 October 2006
Inspired by the discovery of an antiquated Norwegian zither (or harpeleik) in his grandfather’s barn, Per Henrik Svalastog was driven to create something of a sonic oddity that seamlessly entwines the rustic and the sophisticate in an uneasy battle of wills.
Loping forth from the same Norwegian backwoods as Royksopp and Biosphere, Svalastog seems more interested in asking questions than painting pictures. The development of Woodwork seems as concerned with reconciling the romantic image of Norwegian electronica with the actuality as it does with exploring the relationships between old music and new. Either way and irrespective of the intellectualisation of this album, the results are at worst intriguing and at best captivating.
Perhaps the last thing you would expect from an album constructed in its entirety from sounds made by zither and ram’s horn is accessibility, but life is full of surprises, did you know Norway has 1701 nature reserves?
