Helene Blum Will Get You Through Winter

HELENE BLUM

Linden Sol

Pile House Records 0410

Denmark doesn’t get a lot of sunshine in the winter. Linden sol translates “little sun,” and this album pays homage to the fragility of the light amidst the ice-locked winter. Blum’s voice has many of the same qualities as Mairéad Ni Mhaonaigh’s of Altan in that, upon first listening, it sounds so vulnerable and light we fear it might drift away. Then you listen more carefully and the power behind the quiet exterior hits you. The opening title track sounds almost funereal as Blum’s crystalline tones linger amidst plucked guitar notes and touring partner Haarald Haugaard’s fiddle drone. But Blum doesn’t leave us in despair. There’s the bouncy “Spirven Sidder Stum Bag Kvist,” with its giddy feel, the pop delight “Julevise,” and “Fine,” which comes close to being Danish string band music. Blum mixes old and new tunes, plays some impressive fiddle of her own on two of the tracks, and simply dazzles on slower songs. Her gorgeous vocal on “Decembernat” might be what Kate Rusby would do if she sang in Danish. Wish I could tell you more about the content of the lyrics, folks, but let’s just say that if you want a good laugh, try out the online Danish-to-English dictionaries. But you don’t need to know a word of Danish to appreciate Blum’s talent. Her voice brings a little sun to any season.

Check out her musical chops and then her voice on these You Tube clips.