Baba Yaga (album)

Baba Yaga is the fourth studio album by Norwegian fiddler and multi-instrumentalist Annbjørg Lien, released on 1 November 1999 by Grappa Music (GMCD 4158). In somewhat of a departure from her previous albums, which contain a broad mixture of both traditional tunes and modern pieces, Baba Yaga is composed primarily of Lien's own works, set against lush, evocative arrangements by longtime collaborator (and producer) Bjørn Ole Rasch, of Bukkene Bruse, and Roger Tallroth, guitarist of Swedish group Väsen.

Reviews and critical reception
With wisdom from tales about the Slavic witch Baba Yaga as an ideological superstructure, harding fiddler Annbjørg Lien is returning with an album out of the ordinary again. It appears in the musical landscape where pounding drums, whistles and synths around fill the air around her fiddle with exciting inventions.

Mick Moll of FolkWorld said the record was "Powerful and in[n]ovative," saying that "…With impressionistic melodies and new combinations[,] she conjures up a musical landscape of abundance—gathering from traditions both near and far." Moll also stated that Lien was Norway's "most exciting new folk musician[…] Baba Yaga is an exceptional[ly] strong album."

Allmusic reviewer Chris Nickson awarded the album 4.5/5 stars, and, in a review by Terje Mosnes of the Norwegian newspaper Dagbladet, the album was given 5/5.

Track listing

 * 1) "Loki" (4:31)
 * 2) "Irianda" (3:29)
 * 3) "Astra" (4:51)
 * 4) "Ája" (6:47)
 * 5) "Baba Yaga" (4:45)
 * 6) "Old Larry" (4:29)
 * 7) "January" (3:19)
 * 8) "Ritual" (4:30)
 * 9) "Inoque" (4:43)
 * 10) "Wackidoo" (4:26)
 * 11) "W." (3:48)

Personnel

 * Annbjørg Lien – Hardanger fiddle (hardingfele), keyed fiddle (nyckelharpa), vocals
 * Terje Isungset – mouth harp
 * Roger Tallroth – bouzouki, 12-string guitar, mandola
 * Svein Dag Hauge – guitar
 * Bjørn Ole Rasch – keyboards, Mini Moog
 * Hans Fredrik Jacobsen – Swedish bagpipes (säckpipa), clarinet, flute, whistles, oud
 * Rune Arnesen – drums, percussion
 * Ailo Gaup – vocals (track no. 4)

 String quartet  :
 * Arve Moen Bergset – first violin
 * Per Sæmund Bjørkum – second violin
 * Johannes Gustavsson – viola
 * Øystein Sonstad – cello

Credits

 * Victor Boullet	– photography
 * Morten Lund – mastering
 * Drew Miller – graphic remix
 * Bjørn Ole Rasch – arranger, composer, producer & programming
 * Roger Tallroth – arranger