reviews from Finnish progressive folk music

Inkoon Musiiki Mr.Mäläskä : Northern music for accordion and violin (2001)**°°

Only in the first track you don't hear much extra personal interpretation or style in this traditional song. But after that the accordion plays with much feeling and subtle contrasts, added with nice violin arrangement. I heard many amateuristic combinations of violin and accordion before. Finnish productions however rarely disappointed me. There is often a peace and rest and skill and craftsmanship in every recording I heard so far. The quiter passages here have much mood creation, and the sound production is optimal. The few uptempo traditionals for accordion accordion I personally would prefer in more complex or energetic arrangements than with just these two instruments, because like this the breathing instrument of the accordion becomes much more melodic instrument only. In these few passages I the personal talents or touch come not out as much as elsewhere. I do understand such faster tracks on a release for making balancing contrasts. A surprise is the last track, which has some choir added. This fits beautiful with the somewhat pastoral playing of the duo. I hope they will do this more often at their next production!

Webpage at http://webusers.siba.fi/~asoinine/malaska.htm

Finl.Rec. Martti Pokela : Snow Katele, Sámi Suite (1997)***°

Martti Pokela : Sonate for Kantele (1995)**°

"Sonata for Kantele" (1995) and "Snow Kantele (Sámi Suite)" (1997) contains contemporary compositions by Martti Pokela, who can be regarded as the 'Grandfather of the kantele'.

This mostly is contemporary folk music which has now and then a few touches of contemporary classical music on the "sonata.." album, sparsely accompanied by folk instruments or solo 'kantele'. The Sámi suite is extra nice for its sparkling touches of singing. The compositions sound more inventive too. The music describes and visualizes, like a filmic expression of contemporary classical music (compositions) for this folk instrument (solo and duo mostly). An original fresh approach within the contemporary folk genre. Usually I would prefer even more textures and sounds, but in this case there is enough creative invention in its minimal approach to make this a rewarding listen. The few interventions of other instruments (like a singing saw, or some singing, on 2 tracks) enriched the original creation of fragile eerie melodic expressions. A very nice CD, which deserves world wide recognition.

Finnish music Centre info on Martti here.

'Snow Kantele' info : http://www2.siba.fi/kamu/levyt/snowkantele1_en.html & http://www.warnerclassics.com/finlandia/ln/innov/biogs/pokela.htm

German review : http://nordische-musik.de/folk_finnland.html & http://www.folkworld.de/4/cds2d.html

Review of another item with soundfiles : http://www.cdroots.com/finn-pokela.html

Article : http://citypaper.net/articles/072095/article009.shtml

Kantele information at http://www.kantele.com/index.html

General CD with kantele music : http://www.warnerclassics.com/finlandia/series/finlandia10.html

S.A.FolkDep. Loituma (1995)*** (click picture) Loituma : Kuutamolla (1998)*°

While Värtinä evolved into a group with their convincing asured ladies-aproach, the basic nature of Finnish purity can be much more heard in this release, by this, almost oversweet and gentlle group. This kind of innocence is quite unique in the world. People live with such a harmony in (and with much respect towards) nature and music, this creates different persons, more in ease and in harmony with themselves and others. In other more domesticated countries people became afraid of the wolf, the bear, nature, ..the dark, while in Finland nature is a part of their life. And.. being near Antarctica it never really is completely dark at night. There it still has a somewhat bearable climate. Characters of people might have similarities to this nature. The harmonic singing here is like sweet honey. (This innocence is not the same as naivety !) The performance is tasteful and artistic. Basically we hearis kantele with harmonic voices.

Their second album did not evolve more in originality, but used instead more traditional backgrounds. It's much more lightweight in all the styles they bring. This is pleasant or maybe even somewhat "funny/ joyful" if you like, but not very challenging. It starts with a Suisse folk mood, folk like foxtrot ? and continues with similar inspirations, with many more violin parts, Finnish ethnic folk harmonies, waltzes and polkas. It sounds like spring festival feast music. Fine with me, but I personally still think their first record was more unique and individual in style.

One of the kantele players, Timo Väänänen also has some solo records (see reviews at Timo's entry on this page).

Webpages : http://www.noside.com/Catalog/CatalogArtist_01.asp?Action=Get&Artist_ID=24 & http://www.noside.com/text_Loituma.html & http://www2.siba.fi/kamu/levyt/loituma1_en.html

(with sound samples) Review : http://www.greenmanreview.com/loituma.htm

Article : http://www.kantele.com/wwkantele2/loireview/loituma.html

Fréa Records Gjallarhorn : 'Sjofn' (2000)***°

This can be listed under '"Crossover" Folk Rock'. We hear violins, djembe, didjeridoo and the recognisable Scandinavian female singing, from the Swedish part of Finland. The singing gives a constant spontaneous feeling. There's an openness for fusions in the music without going away from folk to become a different genre. Also the few traditional violin tunes occur with that same openness to other worlds of expression. It is very pleasant music where all layers (-like the earthly rhythms, the "blossem-entfolding" singing, as well as all musical themes-) all seems to give itself very joyfully, with a purity, as a strong expression.

Some explanations from some terms : 'gjallarhorn' is the mythical horn from the God Heimdal. He blow his messages with that horn to the people. 'Sjofn' is the Godess of passion, between people and between people and the earth. She was once celebrated with feasts of fertility in spring with bonfires and music till deep in the night, with hope for remaining love and a good harvest.

I noiticed the music sound very attractive to people interested in shaminism.

Tracks that were airplayed : Tr.3,"Dejelill and Lagerman" and Tr.9, "Mountain haunted"

Web site : www..gjallarhorn.com. E-mail : : info@gjallarhorom

Distribution at www.musicwords.nl

Lion Music Barka Vall : Skogsflot (2000)***'

This is beautiful Swedish Styled Folk Rock with female vocals, heavy metal electric bass, organ, male harmonies, and some extra instruments. All tracks are more or less with the same balance in use of the music instruments. It goes into the direction of some of the metal folk bands, but still remaining within the folk territory, while all the other musical elements, like some jazz, medieval, ethnic sources, with even now and then a few heavy metal guitar touches, are only like additional illustrations. Where some bands as Hedningarna have many many contrasts, making it difficult for me to listen to the CD's too often, such contrasting ideas might have lead in this band to a similar effect, but then towards a more harmonious fundament. The results makes this CD most pleasant to listen to.

Tracks chosen for airplay : Tr.1 (6 min); track 2 (4 min), track 3 (4 min), track 6 (6 min)

Webpage at http://www.barkavall.com or at http://home.aland.net/rasman/barkavall/frames_eng.html with sound at http://home.aland.net/rasman/barkavall/cd_eng.htm

Review at http://w3.gorge.net/judith/barka.htm and at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/prog-reviews/message/519 an at http://home.aland.net/rasman/barkavall/recensioner_eng.htm

distribution : www.lionmusic.com