Gulli Briem is a founding member and drummer of the teenage funk-group Mezzoforte, that had major success in the mid-eighties with the album Surprise surprise and the top ten hit single "Garden Party".
Gulli shows a new side to his talents on this record with "film like" ambient, almost orchestral pieces of music that draw you quickly into their sonic world. The songs are indeed surprising and dynamic, where Gulli features South African singer, Vusi Mahlasela as well as using unusual instruments like an Icelandic Stone Harp made by modern artist Páll Guðmundsson from Húsafell, Iceland, as well as Dulcitone & Glockenspiel. British string arranger Simon Hale contributed to the album with two string arrangements performed by a hungarian string ensemble in Budapest.
The Liberté album features eight new compositions written mostly by Gulli Briem & Icelandic poet Jökull Jörgensen. Additional musicians apart from Mahlasela are trumpeters Joo Kraus, Sebastian Studnitzky, percussionist Frank Aarnik, guitarist Arnar Guðjónsson. Gulli's voice, drumming and piano playing make "Liberté" a very unique album of soothing, but at the same time powerful and dynamic pieces of music.
Welcome to the soulful world of Earth affair.
Gulli Briem – Vocals, Drums & Keyboards
Jökull Jörgensen – Bass
Arnar Guðjónsson – Guitars
Sebastian Studnitzky – Grand Piano & Keyboards
Thorvaldur Thor Thorvaldsson – Goatshoes
Strings
1st violin – Rita Gardian
2nd violin – Tunde Banhegyi
Viola – Lilla Ersek
Cello – Monika Andrasi
Johannesburg childrens voices:
“The children from Merlyn Nokwe place”
Icelandic childrens voices:
Katrín Briem, Molly Jökulsdóttir, Erna Jökulsdóttir
Backing vocals: Margrét Eir
Strings arranged by Gulli Briem
2. Jewels up high (7,05)
Written by G.Briem
Lyrics by J. Jörgensen
Gulli Briem – Vocals, Drums & Keyboards
Sebastian Studnitzky – Grand Piano / Dulcitone & Programming
Jökull Jörgensen – Bass
Frank Aarnink – Glockenspiel
3. The Fugue (5,57)
Written by G.Briem
Gulli Briem – Vocals, Drums & Keyboards
Vusi Mahlasela – Vocals
Jökull Jörgensen – Bass
Frank Aarnik – Icelandic Stoneharp
Sebastian Studnitzky – Piano, Keyboards & Trumpet
4. Mia’s song (4,50)
Written by G.Briem
Gulli Briem – Grand Piano
Simon Hale – Keyboards
Strings
1st violin – Rita Gardian
2nd violin – Tunde Banhegyi
Viola –Lilla Ersek
Cello – Monika Andrasi
Strings arranged by Simon Hale
5. She gave me water (5,40)
Written by G.Briem / Joo Kraus / S. Johannsson
Gulli Briem – Drums, Grand Piano & Keyboards
Jökull Jörgensen – Bass
Sigtryggur Jóhannsson – Keyboards
Joo Kraus – Trumpet
6. Til Moldar (4,59)
Music written by G.Briem
Lyrics by J.Jörgensen
Gulli Briem – Vocals, Drums & Keyboards
Þórir Úlfarsson – Piano
Bass – Jökull Jörgensen
Guitars – Arnar Guðjónsson
Guitar – Birkir Rafn Gíslason
7. Hang drum song (4,25)
Written by G.Briem / T.Barabas
Gulli Briem – Hang Drum
Tamás Barabas – Keybords & Bass
8. Farewell (4,42)
Written by G.Briem
Gulli Briem – Grand Piano
Simon Hale – Keyboards
Viola – Lilla Ersek
Cello – Monika Andrasi
1. | Mother | 2. | Jewels up High | 3. | The Fugue | 4. | Mia’s Song | 5. | She Gave me Water | 6. | Til Moldar | 7. | Hang Drum Song | 8. | Farewell |
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