Valge Valgus

Flanders-born accordionist Hartwin Dhoore has been intimately involved with some of the most innovative and entertaining traditional-inspired music to emerge in Europe of late. He has produced four fascinating albums rooted in Flemish traditional music with his brothers Ward and Koen as Trio Dhoore; Kodu, a 2019 duo album with his wife Leana Vapper, an Estonian folk singer and bagpipe player, with whom he also plays in the award-winning ensemble Estbel; and last year’s lovely solo album Waterman.

Since 2015, Dhoore has lived in Estonia, where he’s lately been working with local musicians Sofia-Liis Kose on violin and Carlos Liiv on guitar for the tunes on this impressive new album.

Valge Valgus (White Light), he says, ‘is a musical reflection of all the beautiful landscapes and people I’m surrounded with. I hope the peace, love and joy I find here will reach you through this instrumental story.’ Many Estonian musicians reference nature in their music and that same connection can be felt throughout this subtly moving, yet wordless, collection. Drawing on traditional melodies, yet thoroughly contemporary sounding, this enchanting record can’t help but make you want to visit the country that evidently inspired it.