Swap

Two Swedes and two Brits; two men and two women; two Nordic folk fiddlers and two traditional Celtic musicians. This is Swåp: the inevitable confluence of two distinct but related musical cultures. Their music moves effortlessly from Swedish polska to Irish jig, from Swedish vals to British waltz, with swinging arrangements, memorable original compositions, grace, respect and passion.

Swåp is not simply a switching between traditions; it is a new, seamless fabric altogether. Tweed's spry accordion weaves perfectly into Carr's twisting guitar lines while the twin fiddles of Normansson and Bäckström thread the needle. Ian Carr puts it this way: "When Karen and I learn a Swedish tune off Ola and Carina, we hear it in our style, which is miles away from the way traditional Swedish music sounds in the hands of a real Swedish musician; just as when Karen and I teach an Irish tune to Ola and Carina the same thing happens: the music changes." —Courtesy Calabash Music