Review: Various Artists - Riga Dimd

Since 1999, the folks at the UPE Recording Company have been tapping the rich and varied vein of the folk music of one corner of the Baltic region with their Latvian Folk Music Collection. The series is a real grab bag, with certain volumes focusing on a particular instrument while others concentrate on a single style. On any given album you can find a mix of the strictly traditional sitting comfortably next to more contemporary interpretations. Riga Dimd marks the 14th volume in the series and is a musical tribute to Latvia's capital, Riga.

The listener is treated to an aural tour of the city from dawn 'til dusk with location sounds of the city churning in the background. At first the contrast of (mostly) acoustic music to the sound of a train rushing by or a printer spitting out paper is a bit distracting, but after a couple of songs, the logic behind it becomes apparent and the sounds weave themselves into the sonic tapestry. This juxtaposition is echoed in the songs themselves where age-old instruments co-exist with some of recent vintage. Riga Dimd is truly a collaborative effort with seven people contributing vocals and six playing the music.

"Got Up Early in the Morning" begins the set. Unfortunately, no translations are provided for the lyrics, although there are comments about each piece in English. This song is about a young girl who arises early in the morning and, eschewing a broom, sweeps the floors of her home with her long braid. We hear the sweeping as the music fades in. A gentle melody is plucked on kokle while a woman joyfully sings the girl's tale. Accordion flourishes punctuate the vocal melody which is stunningly beautiful in its simplicity. The squeeze box takes on a more prominent role in "Roads Big and Small," which is much more rhythm-heavy owing to traditional drums and a very modern-sounding fretless bass. Astride the beat, a chorus of men sing of all the roads that lead to Riga.

As the album makes its way towards sunset, it showcases a wide variety of instruments in songs that feature both the very traditional and the 21st century side by side. The electric bass in "The Riga Maidens Are Knitting Mittens" is a bit too prominent but the pipe playing almost makes up for it. The chiming of what sounds like a threestick gives way to a timbrel as it calls people to dance for the sprightly interlude in "The Riga Maidens." Another misstep is the fade out at the end of "When I Was a Lad." Considering that the sound of drinks being poured can be heard at the beginning, I wanted to hear the revelry at the close but the faders were applied just as the song got going.

Purists will no doubt be disappointed by the inclusion of the city sounds and modern instrumentation. "Rigan Folk Songs," an instrumental, sounds like Jethro Tull's "Velvet Green" with the English folk elements replaced by those from Latvia. Despite any concessions to today's sensibilities, the simple beauty of the songs easily penetrates the modern adornments.