Nordic Nights

A cold and mysterious land emerges from the mist. Strangely familiar, yet foreign. Known in Norse mythology as the land of the dead, a realm of ice, and the source of creation from which all rivers flow. Chilly mandola, pads, percussion and nyckelharpa welcome us as we enter into the fog, and carefully move forward to meet an acoustic guitar, distant choir and other natural sounds along the way.

3:33 · 80 BPM

As we enter the Arctic Circle, they emerge, as if from a dream. The slow undulations of the Northern Lights begin to move to the beat of a cosmic dance. It's a primal rhythm, ancient and hypnotic and you can't help but feel that you've heard this music before. Ethereal pads rise to meet a slow organic rhythm, together with mandola, electric piano, marimba, and synths, building to a sophisticated beat.

3:26 · 65 BPM

The very air here is cold and heavy with myth and legend, of the old gods and the new. It's a place where ancient tales are passed down by generations of storytellers, and the lines between fantasy and history are blurred. Sombre choir hums and mandola introduce this particular fable with a rich and delicate melody, and are soon joined by organic percussion, strings, piano and evocative nyckelharpa.

2:34 · 100 BPM

This far north, the sky feels larger than life. The clouds meander slowly along a path only they know, but if you close your eyes, it feels like you can almost travel along with them. A languid acoustic guitar is joined by nyckelharpa and piano along with light percussion, fretless bass, and delicate electric guitar picking in this laid-back and thoughtful piece.

4:22 · 95 BPM

Coming in from the cold. There's no place like home, especially when it's warm and cozy. It's really more of a feeling than a place, which can be hard to put into words – unless you're Nordic. Comfortable mandola, guitars, percussion, bass and electric piano light the fire for a folky nyckelharpa melody.

3:14 · 84 BPM

The mystical quality of the aurora borealis is as peaceful as it is powerful. Countless generations have been transfixed by the serene beauty of this natural phenomenon – just as you are now. A warm synthesizer pad introduces drifting mandola, pulsing percussion and a spiritual flute melody.

2:30 · 120 BPM

Nature is always in motion, and some creatures prefer to navigate by starlight. Like the stars themselves, they move slowly but surely, keeping in perfect time with a celestial rhythm. Subdued electric guitar, quirky Jew's harp and steady percussion set the pulse for a spacey and nocturnal synthscape.

3:34 · 114 BPM

The old legends are full of epic and dramatic tales that are rooted in the land itself. Their presence can be felt in the earth here and seen in the eyes of its people. A mythical nyckelharpa melody introduces determined percussion and bass, marching forward to join mandola, strings, didgeridoo and electric piano.

2:20 · 75 BPM

The sun may not show its face for a few months of the year, but life still goes on. It's a bit of a melancholic existence, but also quite peaceful. A thoughtful nyckelharpa is joined by mandola, electric piano and strings, falling into step with gentle percussion and ambient synths.

3:32 · 65 BPM

The Vikings were as ferocious as they were fearless, and their exploits in war and exploration have gone down in legend. The sight of a longship approaching the shore must have been a fearful one indeed. Menacing mandola, strings and slicing sound effects join with war drums, vocal shouts and electric guitar to set the scene for an invasion.

2:40 · 72 BPM

Even on the darkest nights, a subtle glow seems to hang in the air all around. Maybe some of the old magic still remains here and if you know how to look for it, perhaps it will find you. Mandola, piano and strings create an atmosphere of quiet fantasy, joined by a bass clarinet and gentle percussion.

2:39 · 120 BPM

It can be a cold and lonely existence out here at the edge of the world, waiting for any small sign of life to appear on the horizon. But solitude can be quite beautiful too. Melancholic mandola and electric piano are joined by subdued strings, percussion and bass in this gentle and delicate track.

2:42 · 70 BPM

Ever present, ever reliable, the North Star has guided travellers across this vast landscape for millennia. Its light has travelled even longer to reach this place – and will shine long after the travellers are all gone. Enigmatic piano, light percussion and bass support an ethereal clarinet melody and psychedelic synthesizer effects.

2:45 · 120 BPM

As the sun sets on this far Northern town, the darkening sky prepares for its nightly dance of illumination. Even though the locals have almost grown used to the celestial display, it still puts everyone in a good mood. Sultry mandola, saxophone and synths join with bass, percussion and piano in this calming space jazz track.

3:04 · 110 BPM

Legends tell of lost spirits that wander the wide open spaces as luminescent orbs. Many travellers who brave the cold nights claim to have seen them dancing in the moonlight. Sombre mandola, bass and piano play a slow waltz over a spacious bed of synthesizers, ebow guitar and organic percussion.

3:04 · 120 BPM

Even dreams seem more vivid in this starkly beautiful part of the world. It's almost as if the veil between reality and imagination is a bit thinner here. Drift away to the reverberant sound of ambient synths, bells, gentle percussion and sansula.

3:18 · 82 BPM