In Addeq, imitated sounds are blended into music, and that is only part of what is done. The music created could stand on its own without them, but they add a layer to this CD by Kristian Blak.

Blak (piano) is joined by Anda Kuitse (vocals, polar bear and bird calls, East Greenland drums and dandelion stem), Malang Cissokho (kora, xylophone and percussion), Lelle Kullgren (guitar and vocals on "Nanoq") and Peter Janson (bass). The piano and bass create a current that rides under the tempo of the drum and the imitated bird songs. The music lazes along in "Kamutseq," where gentle evening jazz offers some sharp contrast to the urgency of the vocals. At times the music becomes too busy, almost as if it is trying to be two pieces at once.

The xylophone takes the lead in "Piiseq," a lively piece that builds on itself as the other instruments join in. There are moments when you can hear the dance that is the starting point for "Parnaaliraaingaase," but for the most part, I cannot find the pattern to the chaos in the piece.

The music and lyrics combine to tell a tragic tale in "Nanoq." It is followed by "Piniartoq," which gives you a sense of the cold of wind and ice and then ends quite suddenly. The same bird sound is repeated throughout "Malersartaq" over the music. It leads right in to "Addeq," which is a joyful celebration of the wonder of it all.

Blak's Addeq is an interesting CD, pulling from disparate musical traditions and producing a mostly unified sound.

- Rambles
written by Paul de Bruijn
published 8 January 2005