What to get when you mix a pinch of surrealism, a bit of modern folklore, a heaping helping of talharpa revival and blend it together through effect blocks and loopers? The answer is the neo-zombie-post-folk and Estonian duo Puuluup – multiple awards winning duo from Estonia!

An elegantly dressed gentleman with a gloriously deadpan sense of humor, playing the ancient Nordic talharpa (bowed and plucked lyre). But this is not an ethnomusicological romp!  They direct the vibrations of the talharpa’s horsehair strings through effects, using alternative bowing and rhythm techniques. The mellow sighs of talharpa are paired with electronically amplified echoes, knocks, creaks and crackles. From such seemingly rudimental equipment, the rhythms that they loop and the melodies that they harmonize are immediate crowd-pleasers.  They create delightfully slinky songs about all possible random things around them.The lyrics combine many languages as well as Puuluup‘s made-up language, being mostly abstract and open to different interpretations. And they season their performances with weird choreography. They performed at festivals and venues around the world from Chile, USA, Canada till Taiwan and lots in between. In 2024 they got to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest.

It’s contemporary, it’s heritage, it’s funny, and it’s danceable!

Estonian Music Awards 2022: Band of the Year, Album of the Year

Viimane suusataja: Golden album 2022 (Estonia)

Award of Estonian Cultural Capital 2020 for bringing exotic winds and enriching unique Estonian folk music.

Estonian Music Awards 2019: winner of Best Ethnic/Folk Album of the Year + nominated as the Best Album of the Year.

Awards in three different categories by Estonian Traditional Music Centre (2019), including award by Raadio 2 (Estonian Public Broadcasting).

Nomination for the best newcomer title by Estonian Traditional Music Center in 2014 and for the best neofolk group in 2015 and 2016.

Thursday evening is ushered in by Puuluup, an Estonian duo that self-identify as “neo-zombie-post-folk.” They wring the most bewildering array of sounds from their talharpas, a form of Northern European lyre, whether by drumming, bowing, plucking, or brushing them. From such seemingly rudimental equipment, the rhythms that they loop and the melodies that they harmonize are immediate crowd-pleasers; by the time they demonstrate the two-step dance-along for one of their closers, the growing audience need no convincing. It’s folk, it’s contemporary, it’s funny, and it’s danceable. It’s a perfect launching pad for the weekend.

Max Pilley, Under the Radar (April 15, 2019)