"The music of Hvalfugl is so damn beautiful. The trio’s debut album By stakes out territory where Scandinavian folk and Nordic Jazz share a border, which means you’re gonna get some lovely melodic imagery set in an environment where a thick, moody ambiance has all kinds of potency. The melody of “Stormsvale” goes waltzing, light on its feet even during those passages when the song dips into contemplation, whereas on “Novemberhymne,” the melody alternates between brief melodic fragments and extended exhalations. The spry “Mäsk” delivers a hook as sharp as any pop song, but its complex motion exposes facets of the melody that transcend superficiality. There’s a couple interludes to help set the scene, but the album is comprised entirely by short pieces that get to the point. There’s no time for enchantment like the present, each piece states unequivocally. Beauty starts with the first note. That’s also how each song ends."