"Skandinieki" 27'th anniversary,
Riga, 11 November 2003

Skandinieki

      The new album of Skandinieki was released just to the 27'th anniversary of them, therefore, certainly, the birthday was combined with the presentation.

The first "nine-year"

      Both motives - the anniversary, and the new disc - were felt the all evening. The first one was supported by songs from the new CD, the second one - by division of the collective on "nine-years", which showed some numbers from they years.

The second "nine-year"

      Some songs have seemed especially interesting. For example, a near-coffin roundelay was simultaneously serious and touching, and a joint-work's song enticed listeners to start to sing.

An Estonian guest

      At the end of the concert Skandinieki have declared, that "this disc is an old stage, an old world", and have sung na improvised Livonian hymn on the melody of the hymn of the European Union. Jokes are jokes, but actually this disc is a new step in the history of recordings of Skandinieki: some songs are arranged in post-folklore manner. Certainly, the ensemble also before was not a carrier of authentic tradition, rather - an outstanding interpreter of a folklore material, which has found a unique way: both compiling words of songs, creating multivoiced arrangements, rearing very good singers and puting into practice neopaganic rituals. However, elements of "world music", for example, foreign-like drumming or strange accompaniment's chords, are something new for them and breathe in the nape of Skandinieki of eighties.

People already satieted, now it is possible to sing too

      After congratulations hosts have covered tables, and have begun a joint eating, drinking, singing and dancing, which from time to time was interrupted by comic performances.

      Article: Ansis Ataols Bērziņš, 18 November 2003
      Photos: Ansis Ataols Bērziņš