On the 18th of October 2004 Warner Music Norway released the follow-up to Norwegian quintet Gåte´s platinum selling debut album, Jygri (2002). The new album is titled Iselilja and is a refining of the sounds that made the first album a Spellemannprisen (Norwegian Grammy) winner.
This means that Gåte stick to their dangerously effective amalgam of traditional folk melodies and powerful fuzzed up hard rock.
Gåte is fronted by singer Gunnhild Sundli and it is her voice that grabs any listener, well versed in Norwegian traditional music or not. With her brother, Sveinung (fiddle, keyboards) and their three compatriots Gunnhild has successfully bridged the gap between the Hardanger fiddle driven Norwegian folk music and the somewhat more contemporary sounds of widescreen rock.
--I wanted to make the sound of this album even more seamless, in the sense that I don’t want the listener to pinpoint what comes from the traditional sources and what is new.
Kåre Christoffer Westrheim is the producer of Iselilja and a seasoned rock and jazz musician himself. His last production, the phenomenally successful album by folk-rock singer Odd Nordstoga, Luring (four time platinum award!) also blends traditional Norwegian folk sounds into contemporary settings.
--What made me interested in working with Gåte was the realization that they are all really good musicians. Their potential is immense.
With the breakthrough success of Jygri, Gåte hit the road with an authority that you rarely find among such young musicians. Their shows are spectacular events, much like making Hall of the Mountain King into a surround sounding laser lit rock club.
Gåte's songs split themselves more or less evenly between real old traditionalism and songs based on contemporary lyrics written by poet Astrid Krog Halse. This time around Gåte also make the song «Kjærleik» («Love»), written by the leading Norwegian hardanger fiddle player Knut Buen, into a blistering piece of modern rock. Knut Buen, known to Norwegians as a serious gatekeeper on behalf of the traditional sounds of Norway, has wholeheartedly embraced Gåte and has on occasion joined them onstage, fully regaled in his Spelleman outfit. Much like what the hippie longhairs of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band experienced when they recorded Will The Circle Be Unbroken in 1972 with original country legends Mother Maybelle Carter, Roy Acuff and Earl Scruggs.
After putting out their own independent EP in 2000, Gåte signed with Warner Music Norway and released their label debut, the commercially as well as critically successful Gåte EP in early 2002. That EP and Jygri were produced by Alex Møklebust, lead singer of art/ goth rockers Zeromancer.
By this time the two Sundli siblings had assembled the line up that still makes Gåte; Magnus Børmark (guitars, synths), Martin Viktor Langlie (drums, percussion) and Gjermund Landrø (bass, vocals).
Åsmund Fregdejævar, a song which never got recorded.
Takk for vennskap! håper dere finner sammen igjen en gang.. Dere har vært til stor inspirasjon og glede for oss! Konserten på Roskilde i '03 er fortsatt min største konsertopplevelse! Håper dere likte musikken vår!
Kjæreste Gåte, tusen takk for re-adden:D Dere er en fantastisk inspirasjon og jeg føyer meg inn i rekken med personen under meg og maaaaaaaaaaaaaaange andre; savnet er STORT!!! Ønsker dere en utrolig flott helg i det deilige vårværet:D Start helgen med en liten vårtrall fra meg, håper dere liker det:
Mange takk for adda, også vil eg gjerne koma å takka dykk for de sjelfulle musikk og melodiske tekste. Hjelpt meg til å oppdage eiga kultur og det har eg likket så mykje at eg har begynnet å læra meg(-selv) dykkar språk no (så prøvar eg...) syngjande songer dykkar (så provar eg også..). PS. No hatar eg år 2006: difor vennlig kjem tilbake til oss!
Med vennlige hilsen frå Frankrike
PS. For Lady Astrid som vi snankar: "Tankan mine er deires ord som rår!"
PS. PS. til Sveinung, du som rular, venn, må du veit: eg els--ok, ok, ikje her (lol) :p
Voilà et merci à Gåte pour tous ces moments qui m'accompagnent !!!
Oh,i almost thoughtd you wouldnt accept:P Thanx a lot though,im happy to have you in my friends!! I truly love your music,amazing sound,amazing band.... I hope youll have the chance to listen to my matterial and share your thoughts! All the best from Macedonia, Implore Animosity
Hey there guys! Could you please put the song "Knut Liten" back on your myspace page? I really love the song and would appreciate that so much. A very happy and prosperous new year!
trur ikke jeg er den eneste som ville gjort enormt mye for et comeback snart! musikken deres er unik, tøff og helt utrolig bra, og dere er et solid band.
håper dere tar en spicegirls, og erobrer verden igjen, med deres rå og herlige musikk.
