CD REVIEW : ELYSIAN FIELDS ‘FIKA’ – 4 CDS TO GIVE AWAY

Above: FIKA is available from Move Records (MCD 603) , Buywell Records, Spotify, Apple Music, iTunes, Bandcamp and by visiting www.maraisproject.com.au/elysian-fields. Featured image: Elysian Fields band members – (l to r) Dave Goodman, Matt Keegan, Susie Bishop, Jenny Eriksson, Matt McMahon, Siebe Pogson.

FIKA : Elysian Fields-The Scandinavian Project (MCD 603) is the second recording on Move Records for Elysian Fields, Australia’s only electric viola da gamba band. Crossover music heroes in this band led by gambist Jenny Eriksson are securing a solid place in Elysium with this second release.

Beautifully expansive and suitable arrangements, a smooth blend of the traditionally disparate instruments and a total obliteration of any divides between classical, early music, jazz and world music styles are admirable here.

For this, the band’s ‘Scandinavian Project’. The CD’s title refers to ‘fika’ the Swedish concept of gathering, resting and sharing coffee and food with family members and friends.

For our challenging 2020, the project  is an evocative and therapeutic collection of warm and tasty Scandinavian morsels this during this time of somewhat muted living with global limitations  for music, musicians and humanity in general.

Above : Matt Keegan, saxophonist and composer of ‘Cold Soul’.

The nine tracks of this project combine Jenny Eriksson’s electric viola gamba with Dave Goodman’s drums, Matt Keegan’s saxophones, Susie Bishop’s vocals in folk, jazz and contemporary classical style, Matt McMahon’s jazz piano, Siebe Pogson’s bass guitar and Susie Bishop’s violin.

These quality ingredients are mixed to prepare repeatedly delicious musical snacks, there wealth of accents arranged by band members  with smooth, earnest intimacy. The resulting fine conversations and elaboration  would be desirable in any fika anywhere , as well as on an concert stage, in any jazz venue or at any world music event.

The artworks of Swede Nils Gunnar Zandar, in effective booklet design from Lyndall Gerlach grace the physical CD product, making perhaps a retro purchase of the tangible item for this innovative recording attractive over modern streaming of the  music alone.

The focus on expanding music such as folk songs or modern jazz statements helps to keep the sentiments real and touching for any gathering or group to share.

The pain referred to in the second track, arranged by pianist Matt McMahon, ‘Frid på Jord’ (Peace on Earth), echoes current mid-pandemic hardship for many. Bishop’s  ‘ forever clear delivery of the Swedish lyrics which translate to ‘in my soul was night and struggle’ resonates chillingly as it is gently supported by other band members in this exquisite and eclectic tapestry.

Above : Elysion Fields’ violinist, vocalist  and arranger Susie Bishop.

A poignant parlance exists between Jenny Eriksson’s viola da gamba and Matt Keegan’s saxophones. The timbres reflect, and resemble  each other is a very noticeable way on this recording. In the hands of such exponents of their instruments the fine blend for modern and ancient instruments  succeed whether in introduction, interlude, melodic statement or improvisation mode.

This is obvious right from the CD’s uplifting opening track, an arrangement of jazz-crossover composer Jan Gunnar Hoff’s piece,  ‘Living’. It is relevant for our time and solidly arranged by Jenny Eriksson for electric viola da gamba, saxophone and the band in instrumental mode.

Add to this instrumental combination the chameleon quality of Susie Bishop’s opera-folk-jazz-contemporary-classical vocals, world music violin and Dave Goodman’s sensitive drumming and we are  consistently impressed by  atmospheres  rendered with clarity and colour.

A definite vocal highlight of this recording for me is track 6, ‘Meditatus’. This track is once again beautifully arranged for Elysian Fields’ band resources by Jenny Ericksson, and Bishop’s voice clearly emerges above the is exemplary in bringing us tasteful and penetrating jazz crossover vocals. Lovers of jazz and early church music alike will find this soundscape riveting.

Above: Elysian Fields’ pianist and arranger, Matt McMahon,

This CD supplies us with consistently excellent atmospheric tracks which defy choosing an absolute favourite. Other vocal tracks well arranged by band members show off Bishop’s voice
sympathetically accompanied by the band.

Susie Bishop’s first appearance on Track 2  urging peace is followed by Susie Bishop’s arrangement of a Swedish dancing folk song . The innocent joy of youth enthuses :  ‘We are going to put on a fun dance’. This arrangement and performance by Bishop exploits the flexibility’s of her vocal  instrument and the joyous side of Elysian Fields.

Track 5 of the recording offers another stellar scene and arrangement by Bishop.  The mixed emotions of this solemn rites of passage song translates  as ‘When I was in my eighteenth year’.

The fine studio mixing by Richard Belkner to present thevoice as focus supported with subtlety by instrumental intricacy is well in evidence during such a delicate ballad for vocalist and ensemble.

Above : FIKA (MCD603) and electric viola da gamba player, Jenny Eriksson.

Fika contains three instrumental works to showcase  the effortless blend of this sextet. Saxophonist Matt Keegan adds perfect flourishes emerging from the smooth textures in many arrangements.

Keegan offers us his composition ‘Cold Soul’ inspired by the Swedish landscape and environment. The creativity of this band is showcased also by part-Swede composer and bass player Siebe Pogson.

Pogson’s eclectically inspired, dynamic stensity  is the emotional roller coaster piece ‘ The Tragedy’ with great contemporary classical vocals by Susie Bishop. Pogson’s composition is one of only two sung in English on the CD. The other is the  final track, an offering as inspiring and calm as the opening instrumental elaboration or Track 2 with the voice urging peace on earth in Swedish.

From the vault of beautiful works penned my Esbjörn Svensson of the trio e.s.t  comes the CD’s closing track : ‘Believe Bereft Below’.

In this final arrangement for her ensemble, Eriksson , like any capable Viking, steers this quite stunning Scandinavian Project recording and her multitalented crew of multitaskers very safely home.

Consistent with the rest of the CD  Eriksson’s third arrangement for this musical fika gifts to us a timely and contagiously memorable anthem. It urges hope for future meetings and that love will heal all to  complete Elysian Field’s latest voyage of uniqueness and labour of love which offers listeners a fine array of company and conversation indeed.

Featured. image : Jenny Eriksson, Susie Bishop and Matt Keegan

Sydney Arts Guide has four CDs to give away. Email editor.sydneyartsguide@gmail.com. Please put FIKA give away in the subject heading. Please put your postal address in the body of your email. Winners will be advised by email.