In my head it’s been like two weeks since adventurous Norwegian heavy proggers Kanaan announced their collaboration with the neofolk outfit Ævestaden and posted the single “Habbor og Signe.” Turns out that was the first week of July. Guess I lost some time in there. Fair enough.

“Habbor og Signe” was enough to make me hope there was an album coming. That would be a far-fetched wish to put on most outfits, but Kanaan are right in their wheelhouse venturing into the unknown, so with a second single, the instrumental weirdo psych-electronic folkie “Fiskaren,” comes word that yes indeed there is a record on the way. It’s called Langt, Langt Vekk and it’ll be out Oct. 11 on Jansen Records.

Given the divergence between the two-so-far songs made public, I’m not going to speculate on the kind of grounds being covered across Langt, Langt Vekk, but I do look forward to finding out. Real potential for something different here. I’m keeping my fingers crossed I get to hear it.

From Bandcamp:

Kanaan & Ævestaden – Langt, langt vekk

Order link: https://orcd.co/fiskaren

Two powerful young bands combine musical forces, with an altogether unique outcome. The psychedelic power trio Kanaan and the neo-folk innovators Ævestaden are both among Norway’s busiest and most critically lauded bands.

With Langt, langt vekk (eng: far, far away) the two bands have created a singular album. Traditional Norwegian folk music and rock has been combined several times before, but nothing sounds like this. Kanaan contributes its members’ jazz/psych background, rooted in improvisation and jamming. Ævestaden’s modern folktronica utilizes several ancient traditional instruments, in addition to the incorporation of traditional Swedish folk music. The result is something truly groundbreaking, in where both bands’ identities shines through.

Langt, langt vekk serves up reworked old traditionals and psalms along with grand new compositions. It is courageous and both meditative and progressive. Furthermore, the album is impressively coherent, given the two band’s wildly different musical backgrounds. Fiddles, cow’s horn, kravik lyre, mouth harp, synths, harmonies, heavy guitars and a thundering rhythm section: Musically, it is impressively versatile, as well as consistently tasteful.

Kanaan has released four albums on Jansen Records since 2021, and the tally adds up to seven studio albums and one live album in total, since the band’s 2018 debut. The band came to prominence with psychedelic, jazz-inspired rock, but has gradually moved in a heavier direction, where their latest studio efforts have been labeled stoner rock. Kanaan consists of Eskild Myrvoll, Ask Vatn Strøm and Ingvald André Vassbø and in 2021 they won the Spellemann award (Norwegian Grammy) in the rock category.

Ævestaden is a neo-traditional folk trio, which combines ancient instruments and folk songs with electronic music in a cutting-edge and idiosyncratic sound. The band consists of Norwegian Eir Vatn Strøm (the sister of Kanaan’s Ask Vatn Strøm) and Kenneth Lien, along with Swedish Levina Storåkern. They have received several awards for the albums Jag är sen igjen (a collaboration with Benedikt) and Solen var bättre där.

Langt, langt vekk will be released on Jansen Records on October 11th 2024.

Tracklisting:
1. Ganglåt bortåt
2. Habbor og Signe
3. Fiskaren
4. Langt, langt vekk
5. Farvel
6. Vallåt efter C.G. Färje
7. Hva har min Jesus gjort for meg
8. Dalebu Jonsson
9. Vardtjenn

Produced by Kanaan and Ævestaden.
All arrangements by Kanaan and Ævestaden, except the SATB arrangement on “Hva har min Jesus gjort for meg”, which is by Emil Horstad.
Recorded in December 2022 at Flerbruket, Hemnes by Hans Martin Rundberg Austestad.
Additional synths, fiddle and guitars recorded by Eskild at RCS Studios.
Mix and master by Hans Martin Rundberg Austestad.
Rose painting by Eir Vatn Strøm, photos by Gonçalo Carvalho and layout by Jakob Skøtt.
Released by Jansen Records.
This release was supported by Norsk kulturråd.

Ask Vatn Strøm – guitar, vocals
Eir Vatn Strøm – vocals, kravik lyre
Eskild Myrvoll – bass, vocals
Ingvald André Vassbø – drums, vocals
Kenneth Lien – vocals, electric guitar
Levina Storåkern – vocals, fiddle, octave fiddle

https://instagram.com/kanaanband
https://www.facebook.com/kanaanband
https://kanaanband.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/aevestaden/
https://www.instagram.com/aevestaden/
https://aevestaden.bandcamp.com/
https://www.aevestaden.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Jansenrecords
https://www.instagram.com/jansenrecords/
https://www.jansenrecords.com/

Kanaan & Ævestaden, “Habbor og Signe”

Yeah, this came out a bit ago at this point, a week or two, fine. It’s been kind of a busy time, so maybe a bit of slack could be cut. And I know the nature of the internet and music right now is a thing exists for about a week before it’s released and maybe three days thereafter before the next whatever comes along, but this collaborative track between Norwegian trio Kanaan and countrymen neofolk troupe Ævestaden, a take on the traditional song “Habbor og Signe,” is vibrant enough that I wanted to put it here regardless of time, if only to say I hope they do a full record together.

It wouldn’t be the first time Kanaan as a whole turned into another entire band — see also Full Earth — but either way, the way they give a sense of classic shuffle, Nordic folk, and tight progressive turns is engrossing for only being a five-minute jaunt. Maybe it’s a one-off thing, and if so, fine, but it’s vibrant enough that I don’t imagine you’ll have any trouble hearing what I mean about the potential. You’ll find the stream under the links.

The info came from Bandcamp, I’m pretty sure:

Here’s a new collaboration that should arouse attention and excite music lovers with open ears. The psychedelic power trio Kanaan and the neo-folk innovators Ævestaden are both among Norway’s busiest and most critically lauded bands. Now, the two powerful young bands combine musical forces, with an altogether unique outcome.

The medieval ballad “Habbor og Signe” has been updated and showcases new musical sides of both Kanaan and Ævestaden.

Produced by Kanaan and Ævestaden. All arrangements by Kanaan and Ævestaden.
Mix and master by Hans Martin Rundberg Austestad.
Rose painting by Eir Vatn Strøm and layout by Jakob Skøtt.
This release was supported by Norsk kulturråd.

Ask Vatn Strøm – guitar, vocals
Eir Vatn Strøm – vocals, kravik lyre
Eskild Myrvoll – bass, vocals
Ingvald André Vassbø – drums, vocals
Kenneth Lien – vocals, electric guitar
Levina Storåkern – vocals, fiddle, octave fiddle

https://instagram.com/kanaanband
https://www.facebook.com/kanaanband
https://kanaanband.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/aevestaden/
https://www.instagram.com/aevestaden/
https://aevestaden.bandcamp.com/
https://www.aevestaden.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Jansenrecords
https://www.instagram.com/jansenrecords/
https://www.jansenrecords.com/

Kanaan & Ævestaden, “Habbor og Signe”