«Whip smart, virtuosic album of improvised americana, unusually original» - Songlines

Inger Hannisdal - fiddle Magnus Wiik – banjo, dobro, mandolin, guitar, fiddle, vocals Espen Bjarnar – guitar, mandolin, vocals Aksel Jensen – bass, vocals

As an initiative instigated by Oslo Filmrullklubb, the collaboration between Open String Department and violinist Inger Hannisdal was started as a commission to create new music for the Charlie Chaplin-movie Gold Rush. As the premiere came closer it was clear to everyone that this collaboration needed to last.

Since then, the project has been performed as a commission for the silent film as well as concerts in its own right. The repertoire spans across music written by both Wiik and Hannisdal as well as improvising freely and tackling traditional Arabic and American music.

«All the way through, this is a lovely and markedly «un Norwegian» recording that excites from three brilliant musician with a joint singular vision for where they want to take the music» - Salt Peanuts

«Open String Department has for sure managed to do the trick again. Maybe even better than the first time, and for sure with as much excitement. I state that the best American music is not made by Americans» - Mono Magazine

(photo: Slemmestad Filmklubb)