MARIE SELANDER, STYRBJÖRN BERGELT & SUSANNE BROMS – Å än är det glädje å än är det gråt (Ett Minne För Livet, 1976)

Swedish vocals, other languages, a capella, instrumental

International relevance: **

Marie Selander has one of the finest voices heard in the entire progg canon, every bit as authentic as Shirley Collins but with the sombre power of Sandy Denny. Every time she opens her mouth to sing, it makes you listen a bit closer.

”Å än är det glädje å än är det gråt” is her second proper solo album, following ”Från den svenska vildmarken” from 1973. It is however co-credited to flautist Susanne Broms and multi-instrumentalist Styrbjörn Bergelt who create a rough-hewn backdrop of ancient sounding folk music. Listening to the sparsely framed, rugged traditional songs is like listening to a tree growing its bark, full of life but without any unnecessary, distracting material. If you're looking for flashy fanciness, go elsewhere because you won't find it here. This frugality is very alluring, and best of all, it leaves a generous space to Selander's voice which is as enticing as ever, and creates a deep sense of dark fir forest mystery. Perhaps an acquired taste to some, but utterly rewarding to anyone who accept the challenge and persist.

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