Vardøgr is the first domestic taste Americans had of Norway’s Origami Arktika. Part of the artistic collective Origami Republika, Origami Arktika proposes a new twist on the post-rock ethos. Keeping the ambient moods and melancholia-drenched melodies and emphasizing the experimental leanings, the group has traded the electric guitars for acoustic instruments from various countries (for example, Irish fiddle, Iranian saz, various percussion instruments). Does it make this music “post-folk”? Labels aside, Vardøgr is a mesmerizing piece of work culled from live recordings. Everything is very quiet, with ambient sounds playing as important a part as the musicians involved. Slow buildups, no buildups, traditional songs (“Tukthusen”), scary improvs (“Trank:vill,” thanks to screechy microtonal string playing), this album reinvents the word “atavistic.” A casual listen gives the impression of an amateur group aiming for post-grunge pomposity. You need to give the album all the attention you have, allow it to suck you in. That’s where the magic happens; that’s when you become aware of the number of instruments used and how Origami Arktika blends ambient acoustic drones with tribal drumming. There is something ritualistic at play that renders the distinction between composition and improvisation useless. Vardøgr is not a joyride, but it’s a striking listen. – François Couture