‘Silfr’ is an intriguing collaboration of Vilde Sandve Alnæs (violin) and Inga Margrethe Aas (bass). A
truly beautiful work of improvised music. The duo started in 2010, as classically trained musicians at
The Norwegian Academy of Music. They debuted with ‘Makrofauna’ on ECM in 2014. Alas I don’t know
this album that was mixed by Guiseppe Ielasi, but I guess they go several steps further here, as this
one doesn’t sound close to the ECM-aesthetics as far as I know. In 2016 they won The Lindeman prize
for Young Musicians, a significant prize in Norway. Both are technically very skilled musicians, not
loosing themselves in technical escapades. They use extended techniques, but don’t go to the extreme.
This is very warm-blooded and organic music, showing inspired interplay. Although it is abstract
improvised music, it seems rooted somehow in traditional Scandinavian folk music, because of the
melodic elements that sometimes appear. They play most of all with sound, colour and timbre in their
expressive improvisations, and succeed in creating music that is very rich, evocative and has depth.
And each track for its own reasons, as each tracks starts from a specific musical idea. Sometimes this
implies that both players seem to follow their own path. But one soon discovers their musical
conversations are very solid and together. An exceptional and very fascinating work!