I have a love for ballads, for they can form a perfect blend of the spoken word and the atmospheric sound of a story together. Now recently I discovered a video of a sand-illustrator who had put a very tragic baled to film. The result is a storytelling performance that sends shivers down my spine every time I look and listen to it.
This ballad is called Dei Frealause Menn (The Mariners in Distress) which is a Norwegian version of a widespread ballad, recorded from classical oral tradition. It is recorded by a experimental folk group called The Frozen North. A group of musical researches who study the common ground between Irish and Scandinavian folk traditions. And focus on the rich history of oral and musical storytelling.
Check out the lead singer of the group at: http://www.lorcanmacmathuna.com/