Frixx

The double X of the Finnish fiddlers' album title has nothing to do with the content; rather, it is a nod to their 20th anniversary. And it is indeed a rich celebration. The opening ‘Juhlamarssi’ starts with what sounds like an evocation of ringing (Norwegian) Hardanger fiddles and broadens into a confident springy dance. Everything that Frigg do is done with panache, with the substantial fiddling history of the Järvela family behind them. There are a dozen tunes, the majority of them underpinned by the spirit of Nordic folk dance and the bite of bows on strings. This is Frigg's eighth studio album and full of distinctive hallmarks, such as the hoe-down flavoured ‘Häkkisen Riili’ - which is why their music has been described as nordgrass - and the plucked mandolin of Petri Prauda on the reflective ‘Terhen’. The most furious track is probably the punkish ‘Varpunen’, while the most intriguing is ‘Myrskyluoto’ in a seductively irregular 6/8. But the most haunting is ‘Saatto’ (Procession), which is slow, filmic and full of nostalgia.

Frigg are one of Europe's greatest and most enduring bands, and there's a lot to explore and enjoy on this excellent album. Next time you have the opportunity, check out one of their live shows, which is where they excel.