MADE IN NORWAY

I was really excited when I read about the release of this Blu Ray/ DVD set. It was released by Änglagård's Fan club in the US so it may not be too easy to get hold of outside the US but it's no doubt worth any extra hassle. As stated before, the venue is small and the atmosphere is very intimate. No fancy lighting, no fast cuts or special effects, it's all about the music. With a lovely set that spans across all three albums (basically the same set as on the Live in Japan album with slight changes in arrangements and song length plus Vandringar I Vilsenhet, the drum solo El Ímpetu Del Bosque and Sista Somrar) there is a great representation of what makes their music so unique. I don't think I need to comment on the music too much, I've already watched and listened through it multiple times and there are still new things to discover and pay attention to. The performance is absolutely flawless, the two new members Linus Kåse on keys, soprano saxophone and vocals and Erik Hammarström on drums (unlike stated in the desciption above, Thomas Johnson and Mattias Olsson are not actually featured here) do a superb job and blend seamlessly into the overall sound. Despite the small size of the venue they actually employ all the analog instruments (two Mellotrons, Hammond B3, Fender Rhodes, a moog synth and even a piano), which adds to the great overall sound. Featured on two discs (one Blu Ray and one DVD with identical content) is the full two-hour concert as well as a Picture Gallery. Four cameras or so, mostly slow cuts, many close shots and a crisp sound make for pleasant listening and watching without distractions. There is a short teaser on youtube with a clip of Jordrök, in which you can see the basic setup and get an idea of what to expect. If you're a fan of Änglagård's music and haven't picked this gem up yet, I'd strongly recommend you do so. To me, this is one of the best music DVDs in recent years and a great addition to Änglagård's flawless discography.