(Scroll down to download a PDF of the beautiful album artwork)

The cool sea breeze brings with it a scent of infinity.

The water washes up high over our trouser legs as we stand on the beach.

We hear talk of dolphins, which can sometimes be glimpsed from the shoreline.

Back in the cities the air stands still. The traffic is heavy, which is why we record far into the nights when it is quiet outside.

Our new musician friends from the south lead us gently towards new sound worlds and stories.

With these experiences we also find many similarities between the traditions.

We are very grateful for all the generosity we have met.

Jonas Simonson: flutes, bass clarinet

Mats Edén: strings, one row accordion

Terje Isungset: drums, percussion, mouth harp

Guests

Vanesa Muela: vocals, percussion 1, 12

Maika Gomez & Sara Gomez: txalaparta 4, 5, 10

Sofia Portugal: vocals, adufe 3, 8, 9, 11

Additional musicians

Robert Svärd: guitar 1, 2, 8

Skùli Sverisson: electric bass 1, 5, 10

Recorded by Pablo Martinez at Studio Musigrama, Madrid in April 2022 and Rui Caps Ferreira

at Auditorio CCOP, Porto in July 2022.

Additional recordings by Åke Linton at Tonkontrol, Gothenburg in November 2022.

1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11 mixed by Anders Bjelland. 3, 7, 8, 9, 12 mixed by Johannes Lundberg and Henrik Cederblom.

Mastering by Tor Magne Hallibakken

Coverphoto by Peter Lloyd

Cover design by Kåre Thomsen, AB OVO

Translation by Bridget Marsden

Music arrangements by Groupa and the guest musicians

Produced by Groupa

Thanks to David Alvarez, who with great enthusiasm helped us find our way into the treasury of Iberian music and Antony Fernandes, Carmina Repas Gonçalves at Projecto Cardo.

Polska típico, Polska virgen and Halling enramada are inspired by tunes from the collection Cancíonero de Castilla collected by Agapito Marazuela Albornos, Fundación Joaquín Díaz.

Supported by Swedish Arts Council

1. Para empezar a cantar

Trad. Castilla y León, Spain

2. Polska típico

Jonas Simonson

3. Estriga/Tingvalla

Trad. Trás-os-Montes Portugal/Trad. Polska Sweden

4. Ballet/Meander

Sara & Maika Gomez/Mats Edén

5. Flautarudl/Storerudl

Jonas Simonson/Trad. Rudl after Knut Hegle, Voss, Norway

6. Polska virgen

Jonas Simonson

7. Jota after Francisco Jiménez

Trad. Arapiles, Salamanca, Spain

8. Ó estrela que vais coroar

Trad. São Miguel Island, Açores, Portugal

9. Por riba se ceifa o pão

Trad. Beira Baixa, Portugal

10. Halling enramada

Jonas Simonson

11. Ó Laurinda linda, linda

Trad. Algarve, Portugal

12. El palillo del Tío Roque

Trad. Castilla y León