Kolonien - Till Skogen - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Kolonien formally started just over a decade ago as a Dylan-inspired progressive folk band in the Swedish environmental movement. With music and inspirations deeply rooted in the Swedish folk tradition as well as the natural environment and progressive philosophies of the alternative-lifestyle community where they were raised, the four-member family band blends acoustic roots music with anthemic, sing-along pop. Featuring rich vocal harmonies that are reminiscent of Fleet Foxes, their Nordic folk-pop sound might remind some listeners of Of Monsters and Men. Made up of brothers Erik and Arvid Rask, their cousin Anna Möller and their childhood neighbor Mischa Grind, The band members were raised in and around Järna, a community south of Stockholm that is known as a back-to-the-land destination for hippies, progressives and people seeking an alternative lifestyle. Much like the progressive music of the 70s, Kolonien's music is used as a carrier of both personal and ideological messages. Overt political stances have, however, been set aside for a more complex worldview, but on this album the environmental perspective is again strong. Till Skogen is a tribute to nature as a being in itself. The human exploitation of forests and land has become a literal burning political issue, which also takes it's natural place in Kolonien's music. What happens when our physical roots are cut down and burned? The nature and environment we live in tells us something about our time here on earth. Something that cannot be replaced or compensated afterwards.