You don't need a deep—or any—knowledge of Swedish folk music to get into Uppsala band Väsen’s output. They deploy guitar, viola, percussion, and nyckelharpa (a keyed fiddle that looks as if it can produce microtones and has similarities to a hurdy-gurdy) to create kinetic, melodically rich songs that could get you whirling your dervishes in seconds. We often think of folk music as something more to be admired, like a primitive sculpture in a museum, than to get enthusiastic about, but at their most dynamic, Väsen’s tracks burst with vitality and often carry the surprising dynamics of the best prog rock. (Yes, that’s a compliment, bub.)


by Dave Segal