… før de spredtes by Danish composer and producer Tomas Raae is a project that situates itself at the intersection of ambient aesthetics, improvisational jazz, and experimental electronic music while remaining deeply rooted in Nordic folk tradition. The album establishes a sonic universe that feels both ancient and contemporary, merging centuries-old melodic heritage with modern production, improvisation, and textural experimentation. Across its nine tracks, it explores a wide timeline of musical origin — spanning folk material from approximately 1300 to 1870 — and pairs it with newly written compositions, creating a cohesive narrative that moves between past and present with seamless elegance.
The rhythmic dimension of the album embraces minimalism, fluidity, and openness. Rather than focusing on percussive propulsion or fixed meters, rhythm is approached as a breathing organism, guided by improvisation rather than structure. Many moments unfold with pulse rather than beat, reflecting the influence of Nordic jazz phrasing where rhythmic gestures swell, recede, and shape emotional direction rather than dictate movement. The occasional use of drum machines adds a muted, ghostlike patterning that blends into the acoustic layers without disturbing the organic character of the soundscape. This balance between human touch and electronic subtlety contributes to a rhythmic identity that is meditative, atmospheric, and grounded in nuance.
Synth work plays a crucial role in defining the album’s cinematic dimension. Rather than occupying the foreground, synth textures function like mist or auroras suspended above acoustic instrumentation — shaping mood, color, and environment. Pads and drones reflect the ambience of forests, cold tides, fog, and dawn light, echoing the North’s elemental quiet. The electronic components are not used as futuristic contrast but rather as an extension of Nordic tonal language, offering harmonic warmth and glacial resonance. This sonic strategy creates a liminal space where synthetic and organic sound sources coexist without hierarchy, suggesting continuity instead of rupture.
The atmosphere throughout the album is immersive, contemplative, and emotionally resonant, forming a listening experience that feels like entering a timeless landscape. The collaboration with vocalist Eline Hellerud Åsbakk introduces a crucial narrative and emotional dimension. Drawn from the vocal traditions of Northern Norway and guided by her background in experimental and improvisational jazz, her voice carries clarity, fragility, and spiritual presence. She interprets both folk material and newly written melodies with expressive precision, honoring historical lineage while embodying contemporary expression. Her tone adds warmth to the album’s cold, airy ambience, anchoring the sonic field with human intimacy.
Conceptually, … før de spredtes operates as a study, tribute, and continuation of Nordic folk heritage. It reflects the poetic and philosophical depth of historical lyricism, addressing themes of love, longing, grief, memory, acceptance, and human connection to nature. The incorporation of selected historical material alongside original songs expands rather than imitates tradition, presenting a renewed reading of melodies and narratives. Raae’s compositional approach respects the internal logic of traditional folk music while allowing experimentation to emerge naturally through timbre, arrangement, and improvisation.
The material selection is not nostalgic but curatorial, guided by relevance and resonance. The title, referencing Ernst Frandsen’s work on Danish ballads, underscores the importance of preservation, transformation, and transmission. The album embodies the idea that cultural memory survives not only through conservation but also through reinterpretation. Analog instrumentation, field recordings, and digital processing reinforce this philosophy sonically, forming an album that is firmly grounded yet quietly progressive.
… før de spredtes stands as a high-quality artistic release that offers an original and immersive contribution to the contemporary Nordic music landscape. Its blend of folk authenticity, improvisational intelligence, and atmospheric sound design positions it as a work worth deep listening and cultural attention, and it is a pleasure to host its review on our webzine.