Eight Seasons by Mari Boine

18 Jul

Written by Mark Keresman
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Mari Boine (a.k.a. Marie Boine Person) is a Norwegian vocalist descended from the Samis, a people from northern Scandinavia once known as Lapland, from whence came a yodel-like, rhythmic vocal tradition known as yoik. It’s one of those "unique" folk sounds, much like Native American/American Indian or from Madagascar, music that’s rooted in ritual and tradition as opposed to "entertainment" - and she also weaves jazz, rock and other ethnic elements into her simmering musical stew, too. Not an easy sound to hang a sign on - there are country blues elements ("Tundra Flower"), rock overtones (the electric guitar in "You Never Know" recalls the quasi-raga tones of The Doors’ Robbie Krieger) and sparse fusions of folk and electronica ("By The Source of Aurora"). In "Soul Medicine," all these sounds come together in a gently compelling manner. Boine’s voice has an astringent beauty to it (ever so slightly similar to Marta Sebestyen), as stark and striking as a snow-swept plain and warm and sweetly stinging as the sunlight that glistens off the snow. Many performers (and us writers, duh) talk about a "spiritual" sound - hers actually is. Not "easy" listening, but certainly not unwelcoming, either -and though I limit usage of that "e" word, for flexible-minded world/fusion music-heads, Eight Seasons is essential.

Additional Info

Artist / Group Name: Mari Boine
CD Title: Eight Seasons
Genre: World Music
Year Released: 2001
Record Label: jazzland (Finland import)
Musicians: Mari Boine-voice, Bugge Wesseltoft-keyboards, Jan Gabarek-tenor sax, Roger Ludvigsen-guitar, Svein Schultz-bass, Kenneth Ekornes-drums/percussion, Richard Thomas-soprano sax.
Label Website: http://www.jazzlandrc.com
Rating: Five Stars