Stories by

"The Hot Heros' most recent album, Folkjazz from Finland, paints an image of the Finnish (mental) landscape that is best appreciated through focused listening. This gives the feeling of being at a live gig, and there is an irresistible urge to applaud after each solo."

"Mainly using a guitar and an array of effects, Jarmo Saari masterfully creates atmospheres and meticulous architecture – with a taste for bombastic melodrama."

"Mostly a cappella, Signe's sound mingles folk, pop, barbershop and choral singing. The result is utterly original, uncategorisable art – unlike anything else you’ll hear this year."

"While the melodies appear timeless and uncomplicated, the performances are pure Ilmiliekki – that is, contemporary jazz with a Nordic twist."

"Rögnvaldsson’s team has grown into a thoroughbred band with a highly developed collaborative consciousness."

"The main attraction of this album is the capricious songs, reflecting ten years of evolution. Rather than focusing on solos, Herd distils the music into a collective endeavour."

"The band definitely has ideas of their own and the chops to execute them. The music has a spontaneous feel."

"When accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen invited me to join him at his sauna society in January I couldn’t resist. But I was afraid. I’ve been courageous enough to attend many Kimmo shows and survived. But here was a challenge."

This year, the Musica nova Helsinki 2019 festival presented a trans-Atlantic menu. The programme plumbed deep waters and explored lovely landscapes on a sea that knows no bounds. All this begs the question: are we driftwood, or are we actively charting a course to the future?