Artist: Fejd
Title: Eifur
Type: Album
Label: Napalm Records

It’s time to be taken to the world of Nordic Mediaeval folk music! Fejd are from Sweden and consist of a combination of a folk duo called Rimmerfors and the metal band Pathos. It’s the folk side which dominates here, with the songs being sung in front of camp fires and evoking stories of heroes and nature’s forces. I can’t confirm that for sure because it’s sung in Swedish, but it’s sung with feeling and beauty. Aside from the drum whose constancy signals a battle cry, the instruments are traditional: the hurdy gurdy, the flute, the Swedish bagpipe, a Jew’s harp and a moraharpa amongst others. You may deduce from this that “Eifur” is going to sound like Eluveitie, Glittertind, lighter versions of Finntroll, Moonsorrow and other exponents of this style. You’d be right. What distinguishes this album is its delicacy and sensitivity of delivery.

For sure, “Eifur” is a series of songs in the same vein but what makes it interesting is that it covers different ends of the spectrum. There’s plenty of the “hey-diddle-I-do” melody and the odd “oi”, starting with the opening track “Drängen Och Kråkan” but it’s balanced with both gravity and dignity. The singer’s voice is pure. “Farsot” has us dancing round the imaginary maypole, and “Junfu I Hindhann” has a light and airy bagpipe solo, but the structures again aren’t simplistic. The drum occasionally cuts in with a heavy beat, juxtaposing the foot-tapping jolly jig. I was reminded very much of Scottish reels, particularly when I listened to “Alvas Halling”. I was half expecting “Äring” with its merry fiddling to burst into “what shall we do with a drunken sailor”. The toetapping and the Swedish maypole are never too far away but melody and movement apart, it’s quite harsh and intense, even on “Äring” and especially so on “Ledung”. Impassioned melancholy features on the title track “Eifur” The mood intensifies completely on the impressive “Vårstav”, a flute-accompanied mournful song. “Vårstav” and the measured final track “Trollfärd” are proof, if it is needed, that “Eifur” is not a one-dimensional album.

I have been listening to “Eifur” as I’ve been writing this review. My feet have been tapping, my head has moved along to the music and it’s taken all my time not to get out of the chair and dance around it. The music is catchy and captures the mood that you would expect of a Nordic folk piece. Don’t expect a breakthrough in terms of musical style, but thanks to the range of instruments and quality of the songs, musicianship and singing, there’s plenty here to be appreciated and enjoyed.

http://www.myspace.com/fejd
http://www.napalmrecords.com