North American writer and artist Ilze Berzins, whose list of previous books numbers a dozen, is scheduled to release her most recent mystery novel on Nov. 20.

Titled The Blood Red Teardrop, the novel will focus on the character of writer Izzie Pedersen and how she “becomes entangled in a sordid tale which threatens her life and the life of those she loves,” according to a press release from Berzins.

“Moving to her new home in Waterville, Maine, with her husband Nick and dog Laachuk, Izzie becomes entangled in a sordid tale which threatens her life and the life of those she loves,” according to Berzins. “Interspersed are her poignant memories of Paris, where she spent part of her youth, and flashbacks to Ottawa, which she doesn’t miss for a second.  And hanging over her is the spectre of a cunning killer who is determined to kill again.”

Last year Berzins released a mystery titled Aluksne, set in the Latvian town of Alūksne. Her first mystery was 1999’s Death in the Glebe, set in Ottawa, Canada. In 1997, Berzins published Happy Girl, a memoir of her attempt to repatriate to Latvia. Two years ago, she published Portrait of a Latvian Beauty, a biography of her mother, Ilze Henriete Bērziņš.

The Blood Red Teardrop runs 350 pages and is available for USD 25 from the author, who may be contacted by email at ilzeberzins@hotmail.com or through her website, www.ilzeberzins.com.

The fourth entry in the Sviests folk music collection has been released by the Rīga-based Lauska label.

The Sviests 4 compact disc continues on the tradition of the previous releases—Sviests (2005), Sviests 2 (2007) and Sviests 3 (2009)—by gathering a wide variety of Latvian folk song interpretations, most of which are new recordings not available elsewhere.

The album includes tracks from established folk veterans such as Iļġi, Laiksne and Austris Grasis to newer ensembles such as Vīteri, DER and Rudzi. Besides songs in Latvian, there are songs in Latgallian (such as “Kuopu, kuopu kolnā” by Krampis) and the Liv language (“Opsasā” performed by Tai tai). Many different musical styles are represented, such as the ambient instrumental interpretation of “Šķērsu dienu saule tek” by Vētras saites, the Renaissance styling of “Kūmāmi iedama” by Trakula, and the drum-centric “Ūsiņš” by Pērkonvīri un Laima (featuring Mikus Čavarts of the drum and bagpipe ensemble Auļi).

The collection contains 22 songs, and the CD booklet has details about each ensemble in Latvian and English.

Tracks include:

1. “Skaista mana tēva sēta” by Folkvakars
2. “Trīs rītiņi saule lēca” by Iļġi
3. “As beju muotei vīneiguo meita” by Vīteri
4. “Opsasā” by Tai tai
5. “Suņi rēja” by Lāns
6. “Kuopu, juopu kolnā” by Krampis
7. “Kas redzēja auseklīti” by Tērvetes trubadūri
8. “Uz kariņu es aizgāj” by DER
9. ”Šķērsu dienu saule tek” by Vētras saites
10. “Upura dziesma” by Ēnu kaleidoskops
11. “Tumsā gāju vakarā” by Vilkači
12. ”Ūsiņš” by Pērkonvīri un Laime
13. “Kūmāmi iedama” by Trakula
14. “Kurt u skrīsi” by Rudzi
15. “Dejas sajūta” by Teiksma
16. “Vysu dīnu jumi jiemu” by Liene Brence and Alga Sprindža
17. “Malējbalsis” by Miglas asni
18. “Labāk kuļu rudza riju” by Laiksne
19. “Doncuot guoju ar meitom(i)” by Austris Grasis un draugi
20. “Skaista muižeņa” by Ilža
21. “Pa taciņu gar upmalu” by Hāgenskalna muzkanti
22. “Vecpuiša pankūkas” by Rīgas danču kluba muzikanti

A new Sviests collection is released every two years.

The alternative band Gaujarts, which has been gradually gaining recognition in Latvia since forming around 2007, has released its second album, Vibrācijas.

The 12-track album is a follow-up to the band’s 2008 release, Koncerts kultūras namā. It was recorded in Valmiera.

Gaujarts includes lead singer and guitarist Edgars Šubrovskis of the now-defunct group Hospitālu iela, accordeon player Mārcis Gurtiņš, drummer Ģirts Šolis, bass player Maija Ušča, and Edgars Mākens, who sings and plays keyboards, rhythm guitar and harmonica.

The band’s sound is distinctive, in large part because of Šubrovskis’ influence and the ever-present accordeon.

Tracks on Vibrācijas include:

1. Vibrācijas
2. Mīlulīt
3. Valoda tiek atcelta pavisam
4. Sāls
5. Plecu
6. Par vienu vīru
7. Atzīšana
8. Ko tu par mani
9. Preobraženska sapnis
10. Par tēviem
11. Citas debesis

The album is available in digital format through the group’s Bandcamp page, gaujarts.bandcamp.com as well as through MICREC’s digital music store, doremi.lv.

Gaujarts’ first album is available free of charge by signing up for the band’s newsletter. Visit www.gaujarts.lv for more information.

The band also appears on the Strāvoklis album, which features various Latvian independent music groups performing songs with words by poet Jānis Rainis. The album was released in June.