Cuovgga áirras (Sterna Paradisea)

Greatest album from Boine so far

     

The latest and so far the greatest album from Sámi female singer Mari Boine is called Sterna Paradisea. The name is misspelled, for any ornitholgist with a taste for details, but the seabird Arctic Tern, called Sterna paradisaea in latin, must be so important to Boine that she honors it with an album. That aside Mari Boine has been rocking the World scene for over 25 years and this is her nith album. The title song is also one of the albums highs togheter with Lena Májjá and Dawn. Acoustic and closer vocals than we are used to and with African influences and guest artists as well. I seem to spot a new singer/songwriter direction compared to earlier albums. She has been working close with her normal band on the songwriting side as well as with Sámi poets Rawdna Carita Eira and Kerttu Vuolab. The fine band of relatively young Norwegian players include producer and bassist Svein Schultz, co-producer and trumpet player Ole Jorn Myklebust, guitar player Georg Buljo and drummer Gunnar Augland. Boines cultural roots stands clear, mostly in the words - the songs are sung in the language of Sámi (from Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia) - but the music is global. I love this album also for being great musicians playing and singing good songs instead of the machine-like remix stuff that has been coming lately.