Gakti

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Cat No: HCD7345

Release Date: 07 June 2019

Label: Heilo

Packaging Type: Digipak

No of Units: 1

Barcode: 7033662073450

Genres: World Music World Music

Description

Building on the powerful joik (the vocal art of the Sami indigenous people of Northern Europe) of Torgeir Vassvik, VASSVIK explores the span between improvised and traditional music. In addition to Torgeir, the band consists of the merited brothers Rasmus and Hans P. Kjorstad and sound technician Audun Strype. The unique combination of experimental strings and joik creates a sound best described as progressive joik with modern strings; powerful, sensual and meditative.

"The core of the Sami culture is the animism: everything is connected, everything is alive. Gakti is the often colourful outfit, which we Sami people are so lucky to have. It has a wider meaning than wearing clothes. It draws a lot of attention to our culture and keeps our identity alive. It protects us, just as the ice shall cover important parts of the earth. My personal Gakti is the music that is deeply rooted in the traditional Joik and the Sami culture. At the same time, I love to create new patterns and designs by undertaking sound experiments and updating the animistic tradition." Torgeir Vassvik

The pieces on "Gakti" include personal Joiks (a Joik dedicated to someone), tributes to nature, friendship, love and feminine power, songs on climate change, songs for those who are gone but still live and Joiks of the world view of indigenous people. The music develops a seamless relationship between Joik, improvised instrumental music, electronics, guitar- and fiddle riffs. It has rhythmic pull, is open and multifaceted. By combining a convincing foundation in old traditional music, with willingness, eagerness and ability to experiment within that frame, VASSVIK succeeds at creating a meditative, sensual and powerful musical expression.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"Torgeir Vassvik's latest album Gakti is a compelling soundworld that blurs the line between music and nature itself. By fusing together Sami vocal art, electronic and avant folk textures and what can only be called - a deep shamanic blues â€“ Vassvik has created something enlightening and transformative. It is a 21st century soul music, that mines the past while it searches for the
future." - Chris Eckman, Glitterbeat

TOUR
VASSVIK tours regularly around Europe and they will play in London at Rich Mix on both June 11th and 13th, 2019.
Tracklisting