(Avant-Folk, Avant-Prog, Chamber Rock) [WEB] Afenginn - Bastard Etno - 2009, FLAC (tracks), lossless

With a name that supposedly means intoxication or great strength in Old Norse, Afenginn prefer to refer to themselves as a more mutated ethno band. They're Danish, but don't sound it. Formed in Copenhagen in 2002, they originally drew a lot from klezmer and Balkan music, but skewed through a very personal prism that drew from many sources, with much of the material written by mandolinist Kym Nyberg.

Their first real album, Retrograd, won them a Danish World Music Award as Best World Music Album in 2005, and its follow-up, Akrobakkus, hit the world music charts two years later. The band has received support from Danish Arts, and Nyberg has been given composition grants. In 2007, bass player Andrzej Krejniuk quit the band, to be replaced by Aske Jacoby, whose day job happens to be as Denmark's leading session guitarist. In 2008 the group released the adventurous Reptilica Polaris, a grander departure from their previous work, which featured a choir and full brass section, and celebrated the disc with several Danish concerts featuring all the participants.
~Chris Nickson

AFENGINN are an adventurous Danish avant-garde klezmer band who formed in 2002. The name itself means "intoxication and strength" in Old Norse. They have a strong punk, Nordic folk and world music influence and since the release of "Akrobakkus", have taken on jazz influences as well. The group are categorised by the musical press as a "'bastard-ethno' band with Norse melancholy and cheerful madness" and they are not far off with this definition. AFENGINN feature a drummer/percussionist and a bass player but adopt the more common klezmer band instruments of clarinet, violin, mandolin and mandola. The strong bass rhythm on many of the compositions adds a more rock-oriented feel to the music and their unorthodox approach and time signatures make them appealing to not only progressive music fans, but also those who enjoy jazz and (ethnic and gypsy) folk music.

The main collaborator for AFENGINN is Finnish mandolin and mandola player Kim Nyberg, a student of Musicology at the University of Copenhagen, who brings in that Finnish feel to Afenginn's music. He is ably assisted by Rasmus Kroyer on clarinet (also studying Musicology at the University of Copenhagen, but also previously a student of Lee Morgan of the Royal Danish Orchestra), Niels Skovmand on violin (educated at The Royal Danish Academy of Music), Rune Kofoed on drums/percussion and Aske Jacoby on bass. They are influenced by such acts as KAIZERS ORCHESTRA, ALAMAAILMAN VASARAT, TOM WAITS, TIGER LILLIES and GOGOL BORDELLO and have performed alongside Frank London from the KLEZMATICS.
They released their debut album "Retrograd" (featuring many guest musicians) in 2004 to critical acclaim from the press, receiving many nominations and several awards including "Best World Album" at the 2005 Danish World Music Awards.

In 2006, they released their second album "Akrobakkus" which again proved to be a critical success, reaching the World Music charts in Europe in February 2007. Musically, it continues on from where "Retrograd" left off, with their usual stylistics and good humour. However, during the release party for "Akrobakkus", Andrzej Krejniuk (the original Polish-born bass player) decided to leave the band and a secret vote was taken to choose his replacement. Aske Jacoby was chosen as his successor and their sound has now taken on a more jazz-tinged direction.
In 2008, AFENGINN released their third album "Reptilica Polaris" which takes on a different style than their previous two albums. This time they have added a choir and a mix of Danish and Latin vocals. They still are unmistakably Afenginn though and still use their strange humour (especially in the lyrics, this time around).

Accompanying their music, the band have also commissioned several artistic and live concert videos which can be found on their website and the "Retrograd" CD.

If you enjoy klezmer and gypsy/ethnic music with a twist and good humour and enjoy such bands as ALAMAAILMAN VASARAT, FRANK ZAPPA (his klezmer years) and JOHN ZORN (MASADA), then AFENGINN should appeal to you.

Rasmus Kroyer: klarinettes
Niels Skovmand: violin
Kim Nyberg: mandolin, mandocello
Aske Jacoby: bass
Rune Kofoed: drums, percussion

released 05 January 2010
All compositions by Kim Nyberg
Lyrics: Timo Haapaniemi
Sporadic voices and handclaps by the band
Aske plays Chandler guitars and Bad Cat amps

Recorded by Thomas Brekling in Granny Studios Copenhagen
Produced and mixed by Thomas Brekling & Afenginn 2009
Track 10 recorded by Lard Nissen in Jacoby Gardens Studios