July 07, 2010

Laiksne’s fourth album explores rarely heard songs

Andris Straumanis

The folk ensemble Laiksne has released a new compact disc called Putra. It is the group’s fourth album.

The recording includes rarely heard work songs and tunes performed during social gatherings. The songs are from around Latvia, while one (“Lai iedzeram!”) is from a Latvian colony in Siberia.

Laiksne consists of Lauma Garkalne on voice and violin; Dina Liepa on voice, kokles, violin, mandolin and reed-pipe; Vineta Romāne on voice, mouth harp and comb; Aija Biezaite on voice, mouth harp and accordeon; Baiba Indrēvica on voice, kokles and accordeon; and Kaspars Indrēvics on voice, drums and percussion.

Also appearing on the album are Gatis Gaujenieks on voice, bass, ģīga, mandolin, domra (a Russian string instrument) and mouth harp, as well as Matīss Biezatis on voice.

Tracks on the compact disc include:

  1. Aleksandrs
  2. Putra
  3. Oi, Dīveņi
  4. Alutiņ, bāleliņ
  5. Lai iedzeram!
  6. Šiškin miškin
  7. Mēness spīd aiz pirts
  8. Dzāruojs puika
  9. Jauna meita
  10. Man tīšām karā juoīt
  11. Kupla līpa
  12. Tolka
  13. Vokars īt
  14. Pār upīti
  15. Kā mēs putru vārījām

The last track, “Kā mēs putru vārījām,” is just a series of outtakes from the recording session and really was not necessary.

The album was released by the cultural management center Lauska. Previous Laiksne albums include Kyukoja dzegyuze (2001), Jānu nakti zelta rasa (2002) and Es jauna būdama (2003).

For more on Laiksne, visit the ensemble’s website, www.laiksne.lv.

Andris Straumanis is editor of Latvians Online.

The article may be found online at http://latviansonline.com/blogs/article/6752/

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