Annbjorg Lien - Drifting like a bird

Violinist/composer Annbj�rg Lien, with her feet solidly planted in Norwegian folk music, but a gaze that constantly turns outwards, presents her long-awaited ninth album. And the wait was not in vain. 'Drifting Like a Bird', is a cohesive and inspired studio version of a commissioned work with the same name that Annbj�rg composed for the North Sea Festival in Farsund in 2013. Annbj�rg has chosen an exciting group of musicians to collaborate with. They include both musicians she has worked with for many years and a few new acquaintances: the Irish singer and multi-instrumentalist Cathy Jordan (Dervish), vocalist and performance artist Tori Wr�nes, Swedish cellist Anders L�fberg (Nordic, Majorstuen), Swedish guitarist Roger Tallroth (V�sen), keyboardist Bj�rn Ole Rasch and drummer Rune Arnesen. Here she presents a collection of powerful songs about life at sea and on land around the North Sea Basin. Annbj�rg worked systematically: before writing the music she interviewed sailors and seamen to collect stories and impressions. It is easy to hear that the project has been inspiring for composer and lyricist Lien. Musically the album has a wide range: from the gem of a folk-pop song Sette segl to dynamic instrumental pieces, to the epic Peter & Angelos.