Their debut CD Norrland (ACT 9014-2) in 2004 and the follow-up Cow Cow: Norrland II (ACT 9425-2) two years later were lauded by both the critics and the public as “a simple declaration of love to their country”, and “an oasis for the ears”, so motivation and inspiration for a third album was no problem. However for Skaren: Norrland III (ACT 9474-2) Knutsson and Norberg wanted to amplify with new voices and colours what was up until now a bilingual conversation. After they played in Leipzig with Eva Kruse, who is one of the most outstanding figures in young German jazz (among others, with Michael Wollny and Eric Schaefer in the group [em]), they agreed that Kruse’s sophisticated and at the same time crisp, voluminous contra-bass play would fit perfectly with what they had in mind. As the two were working out the new pieces shortly before it was time to go into the studio, ACT chief Siggi Loch assured for a further change when he passed on a real find: a demo album of the female vocal quartet “Kraja” with Lisa and Eva Lestander, Frida Johansson, and Linnea Nilsson – all of whom likewise come from Northern Sweden. 

A new journey direction-North, joining up the basic beauty of something jazzy with Swedish folk music.