Curly Strings new CD “Hoolima”

CURLY STRINGS from Estonia have just released their late album entitled “Hoolima” which in Estonian means “Caring” which is good advice because we should take good care of this later CD as it has all of the quality to be expected from this exciting band.

To quote their own words:
“Raw acoustic energy and hauntingly beautiful melodies from Estonia! In our music, Estonian lyrics and tradition meld with American string band influences to create a sound at once familiar, yet unlike anything you’ve heard before. This album is an exciting new chapter for our soundscape in which we sing about themes that are close to our hearts – and we welcome you to take them into your hearts too”.

All of the songs are either original from the band or co-written with friends and family. All have beautiful melodies and, gratefully, the included booklet has the lyrics in both Estonian and English.

Eeva’s clear and tantalising voice open the first track with he own composition “Mikk Sa Murrad Mind (Why Do You Break Me)”.  A gentle and questioning love song;

Why do you break me
and hurt me
try to face the quiet uniqueness of my beauty

Why do you break me
and keep me to yourself
when you surely know that I have bloomed only for you

The second track “Astapäev (Anniversary)” is a more upbeat and up-tempo song about the simple pleasures of an anniversary party with friends and sharing fun and joy. The vocals and instrumentation are typical of the band’s approach to arrangement. Released this year as a single.

There are two excellent instrumental but entirely different in style. The first one is a medley “Firebird/Kribu-kribu Polka” a fast and furious mandolin followed by the polka featuring the fiddle with an ending like a controlled accident. The other instrumental is  “Turia Masurka” and is essentially a duet between fiddle and mandolin with very distinctive solos and changes of pace and supported at one point by what can only be described as a vocal harmony “tone”….very interesting, and good.

“Hoolima (Caring)” is a lovely song about not just caring for another person and showing them respect but also caring for yourself and the world around you. A good tempo number it give the instruments the space to depart from the vocal structure and create an almost ghostly and sound, which the vocals pick up and then bring it all back to the song for the ending.

This is an excellent album from an award winning band who play with originality and understanding of what they are trying to achieve …and are very successful at doing it.

It is a quality recording full of depth; co-produced by the band and renowned American fiddler Casey Driessen.

Curly Strings are:
Eeva Talsi – fiddle, lead vocals
Taavet Niller – upright bass, vocals
Jaan Jaago – guitar, vocals
Villu Talsi – mandolin, vocals

“Hoolima” can be purchased via iTunes and through the band website.
www.curlystring.ee