Angelit emerged from the earlier incarnation known as the Girls Of Angeli, carrying the vocal traditions of the Sami people from northern Finland onto global platforms. Ursula and Tunni Lansman supply the close harmonies, which ride atop straightforward drum patterns and Kimmo Kajasto’s electronic keyboards, allowing the duo to update the ancient joik-songs and narratives with contemporary touches. Although the group’s first efforts centered on unaccompanied voices, Angelit later wove in elements of rock, rap, and techno rhythms.
The Lansman sisters first drew notice in 1982 as members of an informal youth ensemble that included six girls and one boy. After a Sami festival performance generated strong audience interest, the sisters teamed with vocalist Ulla Pirttjarvi to pursue more focused work. Their earliest recording, a non-commercial Christmas cassette, circulated privately and reached Mari Boine. Following the fatal 1989 car accident that claimed one member, the remaining musicians adopted the name Girls Of Angeli.
Once their debut commercial album Dolla appeared in 1992, Pirttjarvi departed, leaving the Lansmans to continue as a duo. The project took the name Angelit in 1997. Beyond their own releases, the sisters contributed to the hard-rock band Waltari on the albums So Fine and Big Band.
