Nordic Roots: Northside Sampler
In recent years, Northside Records has carved a unique niche as the American  home of some of Scandinavia's finest folk and folk-rock artists. This compilation gives  you 20 tracks by 15 of the brightest Northern Lights, including the Gothic, almost grind  core rock of Hedningarna, winners of a Swedish Grammy for previous efforts, virtuosic  fiddling and world percussion from Väsen, culture-clashing Celtic music from Swåp, a  British-Swedish quartet, mutant swamp funk from Hoven Droven and the strangely  compelling music of Tapani Varis's jews harp. As might be expected from people who  spend half the year in frozen darkness, some of the tracks have a deeply melancholy feel,  but the playing is always energetic enough to cast off a few rays of sunshine.--j.  poet