Rhythmic-based percussion builds ground for instrumental melodies to softly flow across a musical state of an ambient nature. Garnås, a highly experienced folk singer, expresses through tonal as well as emotional balance the modern process of ancient Norwegian myths that deal with existential issues. Garbarek forms the musical foundation to the driving harmony, which is both led and emphasized by the soft and beautiful voice of Garnås, who foretells old stories in a descriptively singing manner. The result is a close relation between emotional impact and physical presentation.

While Norwegian folk culture permeates this work, the musical expression is multi-faceted, drawing inspiration from worldly sources. This is demonstrated by the sometimes improvisational nature of jazz, as well as the instrumental basics of Irish folk music. As such, this work is much like the very best of ambient music: basic in its foundation yet dynamic in its expression.

Much of the music relies on the ever-changing topography caused by ambient states. The slowly entrancing percussion, the repetitive melodic harmonies sung by Garnås, and the re-occurring partial themes expressing each song as a whole, automatically forms a mental journey into the exploration of Norwegian highlands and the materialised presentation of timeless stories and ideals, which is unfortunately only comprehensible to those able to grasp the Nordic languages. Although the themes as well as the conceptualized instrumentation are drawn from medieval times, the impact is surprisingly present.

Benefiting from a resistance to convention, Garnås and Garbarek embark on a vision that is both local and global. The music stands out as hopelessly beautiful, heroic and genuine. Both artists have a musical history of respect, which perhaps more than ever before, can be heard and felt in “Rosensfole”. The musical wisdom of these two artists is here presented in a modern form, trying to express and re-build the ancient and eternal values of a culture worth all respect and dignity. This is neoclassical folk music at its absolute best.