Annbjorg Lien is a wonderful lady from Norway who has taken the traditional Hardanger fiddle music of the country and turned it on its head. She grew up with both classical violin training and folk music roots, but decided to pursure her folk roots further. She joined the Norwegian folk group Bukkene Bruse (Billy Goats Gruff) and later started her own solo career.
Annbjorg plays the Hardanger fiddle (a type of violin with four drone strings underneath the playing strings) as well as the Swedish Nyckelharpa. She also has a band that performs with her on albums and tours, including such instruments as guitar, percussion, keyboards and bagpipes. Annbjorg plays both songs from the Norwegian tradition, and songs inspired by the Norwegian tradition. Her songs obviously include the fiddle as the main instrument, but layered under that is various folk/nature sounds, samples, and sometimes rock and roll elements. Annbjorg plays her fiddles in a bit faster manner than most traditional fiddlers, but that makes for music that is "updated" and more friendly to the modern listener. However, if I had one criticism of Annbjorg's music, it would be that she does not use the Hardanger fiddle enough. If I wanted to listen to Nyckelharpa, I'd pull out a Vasen CD. The reason I say this is that I listen to her mostly because she does play the Hardanger. Also, her live show was VERY loud, and it seemed that the other instruments sometimes drowned out the fiddle sound. Other than that, I really enjoy her music.
She has released four solo albums so far - Felefeber, Prisme, Baba Yaga, and the recently released Aliens Live. I own Prisme, and it is a very good album. It has very catchy tunes, and goes beyond the traditional by including whistles, flutes, synthesizers, etc. to give the tunes a more "world music" feel. The "natural" and "magical" quality of the Norwegian music is enhanced by the use of these sounds. It is, for me, the perfect blend of the traditional and the modern, as it does not go too far either way.