The Norwegian vocal group, PUST (which means "breath" in Norwegian), has released a new video to go along with the release of their second album, "Kry".
They explain their group concept, saying
PUST finds inspiration somewhere between folksong, jazz and ethnic vocal music. Tradition and innovation are a part of the groups musical expression.
Here they experiment with overlapping an Irish reel and a Norwegian halling tune. The tunes used, arranged by group member Håvard Gravdal, are "Guilderoy Reel" and a halling from Elverum.
PUST was the 1st prize winner of the international contest for vocal groups at the Tampere Vocal Music Festival 2005 in Finland where the jury said of them:
“… sounds like something that has never been heard before.”
Their first CD, "Femkant", was nominated for a Norwegian Grammy Award 2007 (Spellemannprisen) in the Open category. It was also nominated for The Contemporary A cappella Recording Award (CARA) for the best a cappella jazz album in 2007. PUST albums are available through iTunes.
The group writes and arranges some of its own material, which is available in sheet music form. They also have their own recording company.
They are certainly pushing a cappella singing in new directions and I hope to be able to review one of their albums in the future.
Pust is:
- Anne Hilde Grøv (soprano)
- Jorunn Lovise Husan (soprano)
- Elisabeth Anvik (alto)
- Jostein Hasselgård (tenor)
- Håvard Gravdal (baritone)
- Mads Iversen (bass)
