Swedish group refreshes folk

Faced with Vasen's album Whirled, I had no idea what context to listen to the group in. Not being familiar with what "normal" Swedish music sounds like, there was no point of entry or comparison -- I just had to stick in the CD and see what I thought. After I'd established a first impression, I did some research to see what Vasen is all about.\nVasen, it would seem, borrows heavily from traditional Swedish folk music and instrumentation, but also contemporizes its sound with original compositions and percussion. The band's sound is composed of instruments rarely seen in Western music, including the nyckelharpa (a keyed fiddle) and the Swedish bouzouki. Despite the foreign instrumentation, Vasen produces a sound that is reminiscent enough of some American fiddle music to be accessible, but unique enough to be compelling to the discriminating listener.\nThe interplay of the quartet is impressive, as the mood of the songs veer from joyous and dancelike to moody and reflective. The percussion, unique to Vasen and not usually a part of traditional Swedish folk, helps drive the music forward and meshes well with the strings. Similar in spirit to the alt-country and progressive folk artists operating in the United States today, it's refreshing and inspiring to see a group of musicians with a healthy respect for the music of their roots, but at the same time aren't afraid to add their own personal, contemporary touch.