Building bridges
Musical Odyssey
Annbjørg Lien explores a broad range of traditions with true professionalism and playfulness. From her roots in Northern music she invites us on a sensitive and sparkling odyssey through a wide set of moods and styles. Annbjørg once again shows that she is one of Norway’s most innovative artists, combining new and traditional instruments and soundscapes.
Khoom Loy
Also the album title evokes many themes. Khoom Loy is Thai for the airborne paper lanterns of Asian tradition, symbolizing wisdom, guidance and conveying wishes to heaven. Red lanterns are used for celebrations, green means growth, purple is for opportunity, pink for love and white is for health. Such a specter of colors and good wishes signifies The East meeting The West, not to forget The North, building bridges between traditions and temperatures, looking forward as well as backward. Traditional Norwegian, Irish and Asian music interact with jazz, rock and other contemporary styles. It feels just as natural with Nepalese musicians as tunes based on poems by Norwegian writers Jakob Sande and André Bjerke. The music moves from the intense to the evocative, from local moods to vast visions, from instrumentals to songs.
Eight solo album
This is Annbjørg’s eight solo album. She has also released albums with others, such as Bukkene Bruse who played during the closing ceremony at the 1994 Winter Olympics at Lillehammer. Bjørn Ole Rasch is producer and keyboard player. All music is by Annbjørg Lien and Bjørn Ole Rasch, and the album is recorded at Kongshavn Studio in Kristiansand, with the North Sea the closest neighbor.
