In From The Cold Again

Amazing aurora's in this clip, accompanied by some music from the great Kimmo Pohjonen, nature can be be so beautiful , rejoice and awe !

No rest for the wicked, after some extensive bathing in the Icelandic hotwater pools, it's time to journey via the arctic towards Siberia and onwards to Tibet and China before settling in Japan the remainder of april. So without further ado..

A few months ago when posting episode 5 - France of the eurosonic tour i got a request for another Hector Zazou album, Songs from the cold Seas, well as we're crossing those cold seas on our way to the continent here it is. Back on land we meet arctic citizen Geir Jensen, aka Biosphere again, i posted his Shenzou before, this time his piece de resistance, Substrata, remastered and together with the soundtrack for Man With A Movie Camera, i tell you it ill make your speakers quiverrrr.. The arctic is of cause famous for its aurora's, it inspired the Colours magazine at least to start up north with the colours and music series i presenting artists from scandinavia, strangely though the cover is black and white hmm those art-directors..

Mari Boine sings in her Sami language, bangs the drum and delivers her shaman music supported by nordic jazzgreats. Her work is related to the music of the Tungus people of Siberia, whom we'll meet more extensive in my next post coming wednes day but are represented already here today by Huun-Huur-Tu, make sure you have something for your throat at hand in case you want to sing along with them..

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Cool Frost Bytes

Hector Zazou - Songs from the Cold Seas (95)
Biosphere - Substrata/Man With A Movie Camera (01)
VA - Colors Nordic (01)
Mari Boine - Eight Seasons (Gávcci Jahkejuogu) (02)
Huun-Huur-Tu - Best-Live (01)

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Hector Zazou - Songs from the cold seas ( 95 * 285mb)

Hector Zazou has proven himself as a creative force behind several unsual projects, as a unique musical arranger and producer called upon for his constant capacity of innovation.Whether it be for string quartet, wind instruments, classical voices or synthesizers, all illustrate Zazou's passion for the most unexpected inventions. The album "Les Nouvelles Polyphonies Corses" (1991- a successful experiment blending century-old a-cappella songs with shades of contemporary music) The following year Hector's "Sahara Blue" was released: the album, based on the work of the French poet Arthur Rimbaud and performed by the Sahara Blue Orchestra stars David Sylvian, Bill Laswell, Khaled, Dead Can Dance, Gérard Depardieu among other guests. available here

Inspired by the musical folk traditions of the Northern Hemisphere, Hector's next adventure was "Songs From The Cold Seas" (1995), a literal journey through Siberian Shamanism, Scandinavian folk songs, Japanese ballads and Greenland mythology featuring an impressive cast of musicians including Värttina, Tokiko Kako, Suzanne Vega, Björk, Siouxsie and Jane Siberry. Released in 1998, "Lights In The Dark" – an exploration of ancient sacred Celtic music from the XIIth century featured some of the most beautiful Irish voices (Katie Mc Mahon, Breda Mayock and Lasairfhiona Ni Chonaola), a gospel choir and guest appearances by Mark Isham, Carlos Nuñez, Caroline Lavelle or Peter Gabriel.



01 - Annuka Suaren Neito (Ft - Värttinä)
02 - Visur Vatnsenda-Rosu (Ft - Björk)
03 - The long Voyage (Ft - John Cale, Suzanne Vega)
04 - Havet Stomar (Ft - Lena Willemark)
05 - Adventures In The Scandinavian Skin Trade (Ft - Vimme Saari)
06 - She's Like A Swallow (Ft - Jane Siberry)
07 - The Lighthouse (Ft - Siouxsie)
08 - Oran Na Maighdean Mhara (Ft - Catherine-Ann Macphee)
09 - Yaisa Maneena (Ft - Tokiko Kato)
10 - Yakut Song (Ft - Lioudmila Khandi )
11 - Song Of The Water ( Ft - Kilabuk, Nooveya)

Zazou @ Wiki
Zazou @ Amazon

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Biosphere - Substrata / Man With A Movie Camera

Geir Jensen, aka Biosphere, was born in 1962 in Tromsø, a city within the Arctic Circle in the northernmost portion of Norway, no real surprise then this "arctic sound" label stuck. In 1983, he composed his first piece of music. In 1985, Jenssen was part of the newly-created Norwegian moody synth trio Bel Canto. They released their first two albums together. In 1989, he left the band in order to pursue a different music style altogether.

Following the release of The North Pole By Submarine (90), Jenssen chose a new musical direction and began releasing his music as Biosphere. Getting his first Biosphere album, Microgravity a wider release wasnt easy, however when it did, it got rave reviews. The follow up Patashnik, saw Jenssen continue to explore his ambient-house beatless style. The uptempo track "Novelty Waves" was picked by Levis to support an add campaign and a single with 5 remixes was released.
In 97 Geir released Substrata a classic amongst ambient albums, it really established him as an ambient giant. In 2000 he released Cirque, which unsurprisingly wasnt as impressive as its predecessor.

In 2001 Biosphere released a remastered version of Substrata together with the soundtrack to Man With A Movie Camera movie. In 1997, the year Substrata was released, Geir Jenssen was commissioned by the Tromso International Film Festival to write a new soundtrack for 1929 Man With A Movie Camera film, by Russian director Dziga Vertow. Jenssen worked with fellow Norwegian Per Martinsen, aka Mental Overdrive, from Vertow’s instructions for musical accompaniment. Each musician worked on every other part. There are numerous similarities between Substrata and Jenssen’s compositions for this soundtrack. Man With A Movie Camera is not as arid as Substrata, field recordings collide with orchestras, accordions, beat patterns and samples from old French movies to create a multicoloured patchwork of incredible diversity.done in collaboration with Per Martinsen aka Mental Overdrive, added are two bonus tracks for the Japanese version of Substrata.



Biosphere - Substrata / Man With A Movie Camera (97/ 01 ^443mb)

01 - As The Sun Kissed The Horizon (1:47)
02 - Poa Alpina (4:11)
03 - Chukhung (7:34)
04 - The Things I Tell You (6:28)
05 - Times When I Know You'll Be Sad (3:44)
06 - Hyperborea (5:45)
07 - Kobresia (7:12)
08 - Antennaria (5:04)
09 - Uva-Ursi (3:01)
10 - Sphere Of No-Form (5:47)
11 - Silene (7:53)
Man With A Movie Camera
12 - Prologue (0:19)
13 - The Silent Orchestra (7:52)
14 - City Wakes Up (5:58)
15 - Freeze-Frames (6:46)
16 - Manicure (4:43)
17- The Club (1:57)
18 - Ballerina (7:50)

19 - The Eye Of The Cyclone (Japanese Substrata bonus)(7:22)
20 - Endurium (Japanese Substrata bonus)(10:47)

Biosphere @ Base

Biosphere @ Amazon

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VA- Colors Nordic (397mb)

"Nordic the first issue of Colors Music, focuses on the more sophisticated context of Scandinavia where jazz clubs and jazz music has a strong presence and where traditional music has given a new insight of atmospheres that recall Scandinavian traditions. The Nordic context is full of atmospheric melodies and new jazz structures", from the Colour magazine supporting this release United Colours of ... Well there's some good stuff here so don't let it pass you.



01 - Blue Foundation - Grand (5:02)
02 - Röyksopp - Sparks (5:25)
03 - Xploding Plastix - More Powah To Yah (5:26)
04 - Jimi Tenor - Grilli-Iloa (2:51)
05 - He Said Omala - Troubled Mind (4:55)
06 - Pan Sonic - Lomittain (3:50)
07 - Mind Over MIDI - Walkman (4:21)
08 - Motion Control - Cleavage (2:53)
09 - City Of Women - Tablakone (6:26)
10 - Goran Kajfes - Bumblebees (6:29)
11 - Nils Petter Molvær - Solid Ether (5:11)
12 - Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson & Sigur Rós - Yfirum (4:12)
13 - Múm - Green Grass Of Tunnel (4:50)
14 - Deathprod - Polytwin (2:29)


Colors Nordic @ Amazon.Ca

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Mari Boine - Eight Seasons (Gávcci Jahkejuogu) ( 02 * 353mb)

Sápmi, which reaches down the north-west coast of Norway, across the top of Sweden and, its southern edge veering north of the Arctic Circle, stretches eastward into northern Finland and the Kola peninsula of north-west Russia, is the homeground of the Sámi race. Estimates vary, but there are much less than 100,000 people - perhaps 75,000 or fewer - who might reasonably be described in terms of heredity, lifestyle or language as Sámi. They have never been a nation, and speak several mutually non-comprehensible languages of the Finno-Ugrian linguistic group, the most prevalent of them being North Sámi, the one spoken by Mari Boine.

Eight Seasons, is her first for the new Jazzland label run by keyboardest Bugge Wesseltoft, who also plays on and produced the CD. While Boine might seem a curious choice for a "jazz" label, her music is not that far from what fits into the jazz mold today. Boine has guested on several ECM recordings by saxophonist Jan Gabarek, and he returns the favor by playing on I come From The Other Side. Wesseltoft brings an electronic edge to Boine's acoustic music. The song opens up with Mari singing over a synth pad, then a heavy drum beat and bass enters. To his credit, Wesseltoft has captured the rhythmic trance of Boine's music without destroying the heritage. Gabarek adds alto sax, weaving his lines around Boine's voice, which is in the same register. At times it's almost difficult to tell which is which, as they blend together so well. As a side note, most of the vocals here are sung in Boine's Sami dialect, which adds to the richness of the music.

Mari Boine's sound is powerful expressive organic-sounding world music, musically both primal and sophisticated at the same time. One buzz-word when Sámi music is mentioned is shamanism; the word originates with the Tungus people of Siberia, and what is generally accepted as shamanism is found in many parts of the world, but it does seem to be a word that observers utter whenever a Sámi bangs a drum. It follows that Mari's music is best experienced live, where she can express her presence in the music best.



01 - Boađan Nuppi Bealde / I Come From The Other Side (5:35)
02 - Song For The Unborn / Reagákeahtes (6:36)
03 - Sáráhka Viina / Sáráhka's Wine (4:42)
04 - Guovssahasaid Ájagáttis / By The Source of Aurora B (6:04)
05 - Sielu Dálkkas / Soul Medicine (4:57)
06 - Mu Váibmu Vádjul Doppe / Hymn (4:19)
07 - Butterfly / Beaivelottáš (4:16)
08 - Liegga Gokčas Sis' / In A Blanket Of Warmth (7:05)
09 - It Dieđe / You Never Know (4:38)
10 - Duottar Rássi / Tundra Flower (4:34)
11 - Silba Várjala / Let Silver Protect (7:59)
12 - Bottoža Dáhtun / Give Me A Break (3:32)

Mari Boine @ MySpace
Mari Boine @ Amazon

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Huun-Huur-Tu - Best-Live ( 01 * 234mb)

The xöömei quartet Kungurtuk was founded in 1992 by Kaigal-ool Khovalyg, brothers Alexander and Sayan Bapa, and Albert Kuvezin. Not long afterwards, the group changed its name to Huun-Huur-Tu, meaning "sunbeams" (lit. sun propeller). The focus of their music was traditional Tuvan folk songs, frequently featuring imagery of the Tuvan steppe or of horses. The ensemble released its first album, 60 Horses In My Herd (93), the following year. By the time recording began for the follow-up, The Orphan's Lament (1994), Kuvezin had left the band to form the more rock-oriented Yat-Kha, he was replaced by Anatoli Kuular. In 1995, Alexander Bapa, who had produced the first two albums, departed the band to pursue production as a full-time career. He was replaced by Alexei Saryglar . The third album, If I'd Been Born An Eagle, recorded in the Netherlands, was released in 97. In early 1999, the band released its fourth album, Where Young Grass Grows. For the first time on a Huun-Huur-Tu album, non-Tuvan instruments (except for the guitar) were featured, including harp, tabla, Scottish smallpipe and synthesiser. Huun-Huur-Tu toured in the USA with the Kronos Quartet, Frank Zappa, The Chieftains and L. Shankar to namedrop some.

In 2001, the band released their first live album, Best * Live, recorded at the "Music & Drama Theatre" during Millarit's Folk Festival in Petrozavodsk, Karelia (North-West Russia) in April 2001. In 2003, Kuular quit the band and was replaced by Andrey Mongush, an experienced teacher of xöömei and Tuvan instruments. They released a second live album, aswell as Spirits from Tuva



01 - Ancestors ! Prayer (6:55)
02 - Oske Cherde (2:54)
03 - Barlyk River (3:04)
04 - Chiraa-Khoo (5:52)
05 - Fantasy On the Igil (6:01)
06 - Eerbek-Aksy (1:43)
07 - Kongurei (5:03)
08 - Ching Söörtukchülerining Yrysy ! Song of the Caravan Drivers (7:19)
09 - Borbanngadyr (3:27)
10 - Ezir-Kara (4:42)

Huun-Huur-Tu @ Base
Huun-Huur-Tu @ YouTube

Huun-Huur-Tu @ Amazon

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* All downloads are in * ogg-7 (224k) or ^ ogg-9(320k), artwork is included , if in need get the nifty ogg encoder/decoder here !