Sorten Muld

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sorten Muld
Origin	Århus, Denmark
Years active	1995 – present
Genres	Techno-folk
Labels	Northside Records
Members	Ulla Benedixsen Martin Ottesen Henrik Munch

Sorten Muld is a Danish electro-folk band, formed in 1995. They have won two Danish Grammys for Mark II. The English translation of Sorten Muld is Dark Soil.

Their music can be characterized by elegantly composed rhythms, floating sound of typical folk-instruments like bagpipes, flutes and violins, in an electronica-composition that supports the dramatic lyrics. Some tracks on Mark II are up-beat with only few lyrics and could also be characterized as dance or techno. A music critic on the US National Public Radio network described Ulla Benedixsen's voice as "...a sensuous whisper cajoling you to listen, even if you don't understand Danish."^{[citation needed]}

The lyrics are old stories from Danish folk tradition, about jealousy, murder and creatures. In Kirstin from Mark II a father serves a meal of his daughter's boyfriend's heart for her. In Ulver from Mark III a man takes his girlfriend into the forest to kill her and bury her without her knowledge. He falls asleep and she cuts him in pieces with his own sword.

Sorten Muld has also published a concept album called Jord, Luft, Ild, Vand (Earth, Air, Fire, Water) – a mostly instrumental journey through the classic elements. The album is a remastered recording from a live show at Bornholm.