Nordic Noir

Chilling, thrilling crime stories from Iceland, Finland and Scandinavia have kept us on the edges of our seats for over a decade. But the mystery and atmosphere of the Nordic Noir have been present in the music of the north for centuries. They still are. In the northernmost reaches of Europe, the sun hardly shines during the winter. A misty darkness hangs over the earth. Communities tell unlikely tales populated by mythical beasts and heroic warriors. The passing of the seasons sees ancient rituals relived. This, together with an exploration of darkness in all its forms, has helped deliver over two centuries of music that is as enticing as it is occasionally unsettling. From the treeless, black volcanic landscapes of Anna Thorvaldsdottir's Iceland to the misty forests of Jean Sibelius's Finland, the distinctive geology of the Nordic countries has delivered music structured like none other, frequently imbued with seductive textures and hypnotic repetitions. It is often melancholy, sometimes furious and occasionally elusive. It is also as dramatic as the ancient Norse sagas, but as addictive as the realist Nordic thrillers dramas on TV.