I wonder if any of you used to read The Mighty Thor, in the past (or still?!), that’s where I gathered most of what I know about the Norse mythology, Loki, Baldur & Valhalla and there used to be the computer game Heimdall. You can’t deny that comics & computer games are good for kids!!.

Anyways Gjallarhorn is the horn with which the gatekeeper god, Heimdall, guardian of the Bifröst bridge to Asgard, announces Ragnarök, the final conflict. There’s a similar horn in Islamic tradition as well, the guardian angel Israfil (Raphael) will blow the Sur to denote the final judgement time. Is mythology a rendering of human made concepts into stories, or does it have any underlying notion of truth? Who knows.

Gjallarhorn is a quartet from the West of Finland, which is interestingly a Swedish speaking land under heavy Swedish influence. (there goes the concept of nations in the dump bin). Their music is a contemporary take of the traditional medieval Swedish repertoire from ballads to waltzes. Rimfaxe their fourth album has been released on their own Vindauga and thanx to KEXP Blog’s 2006 end of the year list, I’ve taken an interest in them.

Rimfaxe is the magical horse from the Northern mythology, but don’t worry the music is not really traditional although traditional instruments are used. In fact they’ve got a highly unique sound with mixture of ambience & instrumental drone and quality studio work (if only it was a little bit less new agey it would have been perfect!). Vocalist Jenny Wilhelms, who also plays the fiddle, has a heavenly voice and listening to her singing in Swedish is divine. The songs I featured will hopefully show their diversity (come on there’s even a didgeridoo in their music) and talent.

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Gjallarhorn – Rimfaxe
Gjallarhorn – Kokkovirsi
Gjallarhorn – Herr Olof Live
Gjallarhorn – Hymn Live
Gjallarhorn – Blacken Live
Gjallarhorn – Special Preview 2006