about the record

Hardanger is a collaboration by Mariska Baars, also known as Soccer Committee, Niki Jansen, and Rutger Zuydervelt, also known as Machinefabriek. The name refers to the instrument played by Jansen, the Hardanger fiddle, and builds on the established musical chemistry between Baars and Zuydervelt.

The music on Hardanger began with improvisations by Niki Jansen, guided by Mariska Baars, who responded with vocal and guitar recordings. Rutger Zuydervelt used this material as the building blocks for the two long-form pieces on the album. These tracks are like two sides of the same coin—one a collage-like electro-acoustic piece, the other more drawn-out and contemplative.