You know how when you listen to singers you say to yourself, ”She sounds like so and so,” or “She’s influenced by this lady”? That ain’t gonna happen here.
Estonian fiddler and vocalist Maarja Nuut sounds like NO ONE and NOTHING like you’ve heard before. First, she either uses wordless vocals, or sings in Estonian, so you’re not exactly going to join in any sing-alongs with her. Secondly the only accompaniment for her (besides her own overdubbing of strings and voice) includes fiddler Eeva Talsi, a field recording of cell phone tower cables in Southern Estonia (more on that later!).
The dozen pieces are mostly 1-3 minutes in duration, with “Kiik Tahab Kindaid” being the longest at over 5 and consisting of nasal voices and eerie long bowed tones and cable sounds. Festive voices with folk sounds are emitted with “Siidisulus Linnukene” and “Eeva & Maarja Labajalg” along with rich vocal effects on “Hobusemang.” Percussion and pizzicato pulses are delivered on “Sammud” and “Vals” while hints of Orthodox liturgies filter through with vocal layers like smoke from a church candle on “Odangule.” The music is simply fascinating to absorb, able to take you to places far and away.