The band was formed in 1997 and have since blossomed into a live band of great
measures. For almost a decade they have been smashing hits at festivals and folk
music clubs around the world. Their energetic stage performances include both
tender and powerful music and a tight sound that sweeps the audience off its
feet. Even though Ranarim makes music with its roots in the Swedish folklore, their
sound and expression are modern and ever evolving. They create a new, original
sound that preserves the core of the old music and at the same time gives it new
life with influences from other genres.
Ranarim ’s new album has been maturing like a fine bottle of mulled wine, and is
finally ready to be enjoyed. The idea was born as early as 2004 after a Christmas
concert in Linköping, but until now time has been scarce and it is partly a new
Ranarim that proudly presents its brew. - Guitarist Jens Engelbrecht has been
succeeded by Daniel Ek on guitars and mandola. On this particular album
Ranarim also welcomes special guest Roger Tallroth (Väsen).
Christmas is a festival of songs and a lot of singing is included in this album, even
more than on the previous one of the band. So it was natural to start by
welcoming Johanna Bölja Hertzberg to Ranarim, who will take over Sofia’s role as
singer in the group after the December 2008 tour.
It´s Ranarim’s fourth album and contains a number of christmas folk songs never
recorded before. As you would expect from Ranarim, it is traditional in style but
sounds anything but old.
Songs about Staffan, the stars and begging are the most typical Christmas songs in
Sweden and Ranarim has a whole host of them on this album. To go from house to
house singing and playing to entertain and receive food and drink was a common
Christmas tradition in the past. If well-fed one would sing songs of thanks before
moving on, but if the hosts were stingy then rhymed lampoons would instead be
concocted. The ballad about Staffan the Stableman is a legendary and biblical
motif. In most of the variants that are common today only the first few verses are
sung, telling of Staffan’s five horses, which have different colours and
characteristics in different versions of the song. But in fact the story continues, and
here Sofia sings a version of Staffan and the Miracle of the Cockerel. Staffan is
watching king Herod’s horses, and while fetching water Staffan sees the star
reflected in the well – the sign that God’s son is born. Staffan is devout and brave
and goes straight to Herod with the news that a child is born who is far.
Ranarim are:
Ulrika Bodén - vocal and flutes
Sofia Sandén – vocals and fiddle
Johanna Bölja Hertzberg – vocal
Niklas Roswall – nyckelharpas
Daniel Ek - guitar and mandola
Christian Svensson - percussion
Special guest:
Roger Tallroth – guitar (Väsen)