Adjágas

There seems to be an impression or expectation that the most unique music from the northern climates is cool electronica, with Iceland's Sigur Ros thrown around as a prime example, which is all fine and well, but then I would suggest some Adjagas from Norway to show you that the northern climates can also provide you with some yoik-tronica. Yoik is a traditional folk style of spiritual music from the Sami, an indigenous people of Sápmi, who (thanks to Wikipedia) encompasses parts of northern Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia. All you need to know is the style of singing resembles North American chanting, and sometimes feels like the singers are in a religious frenzy with a fiddle and accordion; maybe a banjo, some violins and God knows what else wrestling with each other above the din.

Lawra Somby's soulful voice begins the album, in 'Lihkulas', with a gentle guitar strumming, and then is joined by Sara Marielle Gaup's equally emotive singing, the drums join in and we are now in Adjagas strong but comfortable grip until the end. I have no idea what they're singing about naturally, but when you feel this rich folky jazzy ambient music flow through your veins and fill up your chest like oxygen, you know its good stuff.