Tomas Raae is a Danish bass player and restless sonic soul who likes to explore the possibilities available to him in this age of electronic production, whether it's sampling, post production or live electronics, with a tendency towards late night, jazz licked cinematic noire, occasionally juxtaposing the somewhat chilly, solar challenged Scandi vibe with the shining lights of well chosen vocalists.
His latest single, "Drømte mig en drøm i nat" is a modern take on one of the oldest known pieces of Scandinavian music that dates back over 700 years, and which was written in runes. It's actually a single from a forthcoming album in which he celebrates the Nordic region & its forgotten music. It looks like the rune revival starts here, and I'm here for it.
He's certainly given this ancient tune a fresh yet respectful lick of paint, opting for a laid back jazz noir feel, his bass playing ably assisted by drums and piano, and subtly augmented with wintery atmospherics that hang heavy in the air. But fear not if you're in the mood for something a little lighter, it doesn't take long for the stunning vocals of Eline Hellerud Åsbakk to ring pure and true from the shadows, piercing the gloom with with a voice honed over the years by her love for northern folk, hymns and jazz improvisation. It really is a stunning rendition of this centuries old song and a wonderful counterpoint to Raae's playing.
If you need a perfect winter soundtrack then look no further. It's also sets a very high bar for the forthcoming album, which I'm now looking forward to immensely.
Playlist Companion
Find this stunning tune with other deep and meaningful roots music in the
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