I saw Gjallarhorn in February (at the Cedar Cultural Centre... Say, can I get a free ticket, now? :), which was the first time I'd heard them. You're right, Dalloch, REALLY good band. I had avoided their first cd, Ranarop, partly because something about the cover made me think of new-agey Celtic-y synthesizer stuff, and I never even bothered to pick it up. Then, after I actually read/heard about the band, I was turned off by their use of the didjeridu (spell it yerself), which I've heard abused way too often by other performers. So I didn't hear them 'til Sjofn came out in the US. (on NorthSide Records... Say, can I get a free cd now? :) Which means that for more than two years, I was a complete, Gjallarhorn-less, idiot. I was wrong about the didjeridu (and the Ranarop cd cover, which is actually prety cool). Perfect for this music. I'm not sure what to compare them to... Sort of like a more organic-sounding Garmarna? Anyways, don't be an idiot (like me!): buy the albums. ;)

Also, welcome to the Mudcat, Dalloch, and especially, welcome to this thread. These threads (this one and it's parent) were started by andy mööer almost a year ago, now, and have been moving along slowly ever since. With new blood, maybe we'll make it to number 3 in less than 6 months? :)

---Lepus Rex