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Four world music albums manage to be more than the sum of their parts
Reviews

Four world music albums manage to be more than the sum of their parts

Four world music albums manage to be more than the sum of their parts

“What is the common denominator between Sámi-Finnish, Finnish-Caribbean, Finnish-Senegalese and klezmer music?” asks Riikka Hiltunen in this record review, which features four world music albums released in 2024.

Riikka Hiltunen

January 17, 2025

New dimensions in saxophone
Reviews

New dimensions in saxophone

New dimensions in saxophone

Finnish saxophonists are creating vivid music that leaps over fences between jazz, experimental and classical, as evidenced by four recent albums.

Wif Stenger

November 8, 2024

Contemporary-early music – towards a merging of styles
Reviews

Contemporary-early music – towards a merging of styles

Contemporary-early music – towards a merging of styles

The output of Ensemble Gamut! and its individual members showcases a trend where historically informed becomes the all-inspired.

Auli Särkiö-Pitkänen

October 4, 2024

Kimmo Pohjonen: 60th Anniversary Concert and interview at the Helsinki Festival
Reviews

Kimmo Pohjonen: 60th Anniversary Concert and interview at the Helsinki Festival

Kimmo Pohjonen: 60th Anniversary Concert and interview at the Helsinki Festival

One of Finland’s most adventurous accordionists celebrated his 60th birthday with a concert at the Helsinki Festival in August. In this article, Pohjonen reflects on his past and shares his current pursuits.

Simon Broughton

September 6, 2024

Reinventing the concerto in five album takes
Reviews

Reinventing the concerto in five album takes

Reinventing the concerto in five album takes

The concerto remains a cornerstone of contemporary music. How do recent recordings reinterpret this classical genre? In this article, Jari Juhani Kallio reviews the latest concerto releases by Finnish composers.

Jari Kallio

August 23, 2024

Improvisation on three recent releases: From Skeletons to Lightyears Ahead
Reviews

Improvisation on three recent releases: From Skeletons to Lightyears Ahead

Improvisation on three recent releases: From Skeletons to Lightyears Ahead

How does improvisation manifest on Finnish records today – in jazz and beyond? In this review article, Matti Nives, the founder and creative director of the Helsinki-based label, festival and magazine We Jazz, takes an in-depth look at three recent releases.

Matti Nives

June 27, 2024

And Quiet Flows The Tape
Reviews

And Quiet Flows The Tape

And Quiet Flows The Tape

The elements of Kokeguchi’s album are deeply sonorous and enchanting, not just suitably different from one another but also of a suitable length: the listener has time to become immersed in the soundscape but not get bored.

Santeri Kaipiainen

August 11, 2023

Timeless pelimanni music with fire and dedication
Reviews

Timeless pelimanni music with fire and dedication

Timeless pelimanni music with fire and dedication

"It’s tantalising to try to hear how the sounds are formed – is that a plucking sound from the kantele, pizzicato from the viola or the popping of accordion buttons? Listening to this album, you really feel close to each musician and her instrument," writes Amanda Kauranne.

Amanda Kauranne

May 25, 2023

Aural world that is artfuly lo-fi and uncluttered
Reviews

Aural world that is artfuly lo-fi and uncluttered

Aural world that is artfuly lo-fi and uncluttered

Uusi Aika is an album that vividly suggests the imprint of traditional music that could be from various parts of the worlds, possibly Europe or the Far East, while the arrangements and performance point to a strong free improviser’s sensibility, writes Kevin Le Gendre.

Kevin Le Gendre

April 13, 2023

Lötjönen’s dazzling jazz circus
Reviews

Lötjönen’s dazzling jazz circus

Lötjönen’s dazzling jazz circus

The raucous, playful spirit of Charles Mingus hovers over the second album from jazz bassist Antti Lötjönen’s quintet.

Wif Stenger

February 23, 2023

Quiet philosophy of the everyday
Reviews

Quiet philosophy of the everyday

Quiet philosophy of the everyday

It takes courage to stay true to one’s vision and realize it in a way that feels authentic. This release by Eclipse Music provides a cross-section of Yli-Salomäki’s orchestral output. The title Valunta (‘Run-off’) is an apt description of an idiom in which expansive string writing and lingering wind melodies evoke premonitions from the peripheries of the mind.

Auli Särkiö-Pitkänen

December 7, 2022

Wild music to dance away the darkness
Reviews

Wild music to dance away the darkness

Wild music to dance away the darkness

"Instrumental tracks are where this album is at its strongest: Hurja Halla translates literally as “wild frost” and in this music we hear echoes of the untamed wildness of the duo’s forerunners who drew on archaic aesthetics – the band Hedningarna come to mind," writes Henna Salo.

Henna Salo

December 1, 2022

Silence between the notes
Reviews

Silence between the notes

Silence between the notes

"This is nocturnal music and by that I mean a dark night with a clear sky – a night for those who embrace it as an opportunity to see more, see deeper, see further," writes Balazs Weyer.

Balázs Weyer

November 4, 2022

Yoik and choir collaboration without borders
Reviews

Yoik and choir collaboration without borders

Yoik and choir collaboration without borders

​"Award winning conductor Erik Westberg and his vocal ensemble teamed up with Sámi musicians to create a one of a kind album."

Saara-Maria Salonen

September 22, 2022

Charting a musical map of the Nordic countries
Reviews

Charting a musical map of the Nordic countries

Charting a musical map of the Nordic countries

"The book is above all a profuse and expert love letter to music and life in the Nordic countries. Mellor’s expertise in and enthusiasm for his subject comes clearly across in the text."

Lasse Lehtonen

August 16, 2022

The two sides of a Sibelius coin
Reviews

The two sides of a Sibelius coin

The two sides of a Sibelius coin

Finland’s latest star conductor, Klaus Mäkelä, has caused a bit of a stir with his Decca label debut - a full cycle of Sibelius Symphonies, no less. But what part of the success is calculated studio work and what is an exceptional flow of music that can also be achieved in concert? To find out, we can compare the studio recording to a recent live experience at Hamburg Elbphilharmonie.

Marcus Stäbler

June 17, 2022

Living Tradition
Reviews

Living Tradition

Living Tradition

"Just as in a jam session the main action on this album happens on the up-tempo tunes. These cats sure like to burn!"

Eero Koski

June 10, 2022

Organic equality at the Musequal Festival
Reviews

Organic equality at the Musequal Festival

Organic equality at the Musequal Festival

Endorsing equality in classical music in artistically meaningful and organic ways is no small endeavour. Yet, this was the very goal undertaken last weekend at Musequal Festival* in Janakkala, circa hundred kilometres north from Helsinki.

Jari Juhani Kallio

May 25, 2022

The kantele empress strikes back
Reviews

The kantele empress strikes back

The kantele empress strikes back

"Kauhanen’s one-woman-band concept, where she sings while playing the kantele and percussion, is hugely impressive."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

May 23, 2022

Late-night contemporary music? Solutions at Tampere Biennale
Reviews

Late-night contemporary music? Solutions at Tampere Biennale

Late-night contemporary music? Solutions at Tampere Biennale

Although many festivals and performing organisations have shown extraordinary creativity in programming contemporary music, demonstrating, at best, genuine interest in diversity and innovation, especially during the pandemic, one perennial question still remains largely unanswered; what to do with late-night shows?

Jari Juhani Kallio

April 20, 2022

Embraced by vocals and stringed instruments
Reviews

Embraced by vocals and stringed instruments

Embraced by vocals and stringed instruments

"The ten tracks on the disc form an attractive whole showcasing the ancient connection between humans, music and nature and, on the other hand, modern cosmopolitanism."

Amanda Kauranne

February 10, 2022

Raucous dancing and melancholy tones
Reviews

Raucous dancing and melancholy tones

Raucous dancing and melancholy tones

"There are raucous dances with shifting metres, but there are also melancholic melodic arcs and soft moods."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

February 10, 2022

Classics seen with new eyes
Reviews

Classics seen with new eyes

Classics seen with new eyes

"Polenta’s innovative arrangements highlight the natural rhythms and lovely melodies of these traditional pieces, and their sound world extends to a grand cinematic feel, complete with angelic harmonies."

Amanda Kauranne

February 10, 2022

A spoonful of metal makes the folk tunes take wing
Reviews

A spoonful of metal makes the folk tunes take wing

A spoonful of metal makes the folk tunes take wing

"This music is clearly made for dancing – but in what way? That is for the listener to decide: one can dance Finnish and Karelian folk dances with their familiar steps to this music or listen to the metal sounds and make a mosh pit out of it."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

February 10, 2022

Rap aesthetics with soil under the fingernails
Reviews

Rap aesthetics with soil under the fingernails

Rap aesthetics with soil under the fingernails

"I enjoy the world haapoja & illmari kollektiivi create, where a folk music mood coexists with rap aesthetics and a soundscape vibe. Folk music is in the air, and the sound is so earthy you can practically hear the soil under the fingernails."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

February 10, 2022

Virtuoso weirdness facing a sacred experience
Reviews

Virtuoso weirdness facing a sacred experience

Virtuoso weirdness facing a sacred experience

"The album makes the point that the need of the human animal to experience the sacred is tied up with the history of sexuality, gender and power."

Amanda Kauranne

February 10, 2022

Accordion – boldly engaged with Magnus Lindberg
Reviews

Accordion – boldly engaged with Magnus Lindberg

Accordion – boldly engaged with Magnus Lindberg

"Valkeajoki is so adept at arranging and performing this material that it seems like these nimble arabesques, continuous and expansive pillars of sound and incisive yet organic accents were always intended for keyboard and bellows."

Kare Eskola

November 30, 2021

Linking Finland and Spain in the classical guitar tradition
Reviews

Linking Finland and Spain in the classical guitar tradition

Linking Finland and Spain in the classical guitar tradition

"The greatest merit of this disc is in demonstrating how natural even the oddest of musical combinations can seem if driven by genuine, experience-based musicianship."

Kare Eskola

November 30, 2021

Sonic shavings  from the workbench
Reviews

Sonic shavings from the workbench

Sonic shavings from the workbench

"Janne Mertanen lets the music speak for itself, though also taking the few virtuosic challenges in his stride."

Martin Anderson

November 30, 2021

Transcendence and transparency
Reviews

Transcendence and transparency

Transcendence and transparency

"Take note not just of the eloquence of the cello lines but also of the transparency, the delicacy, the weightless loveliness of so much of the orchestral writing."

Martin Anderson

November 30, 2021

De-marginalising repertoire, one disc at a time
Reviews

De-marginalising repertoire, one disc at a time

De-marginalising repertoire, one disc at a time

"There are gems to be discovered in this repertoire, disdained by contemporaries and marginalised by history."

Kare Eskola

November 30, 2021

Breathtaking virtuosity, frozen melancholy
Reviews

Breathtaking virtuosity, frozen melancholy

Breathtaking virtuosity, frozen melancholy

"There is an encyclopaedic dimension to the compositional work of Kalevi Aho, manifest in his comprehensive series of solo concertos and solo pieces for different instruments."

Anna Pulkkis

November 30, 2021

Old tales, new sounds
Reviews

Old tales, new sounds

Old tales, new sounds

"It will come as no surprise that Dima Slobodeniouk and his Lahti musicians give all four works committed and lively performances, and that the BIS team have captured them in vivid sound."

Martin Anderson

November 30, 2021

Powerful orchestral images by Fagerlund
Reviews

Powerful orchestral images by Fagerlund

Powerful orchestral images by Fagerlund

"The latest BIS release with Sebastian Fagerlund’s orchestral music includes powerful performances of two works that belong to his most convincing achievements in this genre."

Anna Pulkkis

November 30, 2021

Concertante cordial
Reviews

Concertante cordial

Concertante cordial

"Kalevi Aho has been one of the major concertogenists, if I may coin that word, composing no fewer than 37 since 1981."

Martin Anderson

November 30, 2021

Fagerlund’s modern impressionism works well in chamber music too
Reviews

Fagerlund’s modern impressionism works well in chamber music too

Fagerlund’s modern impressionism works well in chamber music too

"Sebastian Fagerlund's chamber works are attractive, shot through with primeval energy yet shaped with a dextrous flexibility."

Kare Eskola

November 30, 2021

The groovy and lyrical saxophone
Reviews

The groovy and lyrical saxophone

The groovy and lyrical saxophone

"Joonatan Rautiola’s and Marko Hilpo’s duo plays with enjoyable precision and sensitivity. The lyrical qualities of the saxophone come to the fore."

Anna Pulkkis

November 30, 2021

Brightness and darkness of the Baltic Sea in the sound of a string quartet
Reviews

Brightness and darkness of the Baltic Sea in the sound of a string quartet

Brightness and darkness of the Baltic Sea in the sound of a string quartet

"The disc attunes the listener’s mind to protecting the Baltic Sea, and this in turn seems to imbue the music with even more meaning."

Kare Eskola

November 30, 2021

A saxophonist’s intimate solo debut
Reviews

A saxophonist’s intimate solo debut

A saxophonist’s intimate solo debut

"The album reveals new dimensions of Fredriksson’s personality and artistry. Beyond their prowess on saxophone, there is a wider palette of expression on guitar and keyboards as well as bass clarinet, with various horns multi-tracked for solo duets."

Wif Stenger

October 28, 2021

Not your ordinary organ trio
Reviews

Not your ordinary organ trio

Not your ordinary organ trio

"The eight compositions on this record, most by Innanen, exhibit a broad stylistic and musical spectrum."

Jan-Erik Holmberg

October 28, 2021

Jazz fatale, Lassy style
Reviews

Jazz fatale, Lassy style

Jazz fatale, Lassy style

"The seven tracks on the disc, all written by Lassy, seem to form a thematic whole and succeed in maintaining a coherent, magic mood."

Petri Silas

October 28, 2021

To boldly go where no man has gone before
Reviews

To boldly go where no man has gone before

To boldly go where no man has gone before

"Divided Horizon starts ever so gently yet progresses rapidly towards a more forceful and playful expression. High on logic but never too calculated, Rissanen eases himself into the role of a weathered storyteller as the album flows along."

Petri Silas

October 28, 2021

A fresh revisit to the roots
Reviews

A fresh revisit to the roots

A fresh revisit to the roots

"While the music sticks to the tradition, the sound of the recording is contemporary. The album is a timeless delight for admirers of all things bop."

Jan-Erik Holmberg

October 28, 2021

One love from Helsinki to Cotonou
Reviews

One love from Helsinki to Cotonou

One love from Helsinki to Cotonou

"​A decade into their career, Finnish-African jazz-funk band Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble has come up with its fifth and strongest album."

Wif Stenger

August 19, 2021

An impressive disc broadening the spectrum of percussion music
Reviews

An impressive disc broadening the spectrum of percussion music

An impressive disc broadening the spectrum of percussion music

"Percussionist Minna Koskenlahti’s first solo album, Toinen/Other, is an utterly hypnotic experience. It challenges the listener to engage with thoughts and emotions."

Amanda Kauranne

August 19, 2021

Folk music meets Baroque violin – with harpsichord on the side
Reviews

Folk music meets Baroque violin – with harpsichord on the side

Folk music meets Baroque violin – with harpsichord on the side

"The contrasts found in polska tunes reflect the structures of Pandolfi’s sonatas quite wonderfully. The transitions between the two genres are bold and invigorating."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

August 19, 2021

The raw power of folk tradition and fantasy
Reviews

The raw power of folk tradition and fantasy

The raw power of folk tradition and fantasy

"Each track makes the listener marvel at the many facets of the stories and of the music. The wild and wonderful tales of folk tradition have here found a worthy interpreter."

Amanda Kauranne

August 19, 2021

Forget pigeonholing and enjoy the boundless musical invention!
Reviews

Forget pigeonholing and enjoy the boundless musical invention!

Forget pigeonholing and enjoy the boundless musical invention!

"The Ilkka Heinonen Trio operates with a broad and downright electrifying range of colours."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

August 19, 2021

The darkest recesses of the human heart
Reviews

The darkest recesses of the human heart

The darkest recesses of the human heart

"Jutta Seppinen, versatile and vulnerable in the roles of both the victim and the abuser, manages to brilliantly express the emotional contradictions embedded in the situation."

Anna Pulkkis

May 6, 2021

Electroacoustics of a natural origin
Reviews

Electroacoustics of a natural origin

Electroacoustics of a natural origin

"Luonnos, the title of the collection of four electroacoustic works by Ilari Hongisto, refers to a sketch but also, in colloquial Finnish, to being in the nature."

Anna Pulkkis

May 6, 2021

The Majesty of the Miniature
Reviews

The Majesty of the Miniature

The Majesty of the Miniature

"Sibelius’ piano output is full of one gem after another; and they usually hold together as collections, too: he assembled his miniatures with care and an ear to tonal progressions and variety of expression."

Martin Anderson

May 6, 2021

Old Friends and New
Reviews

Old Friends and New

Old Friends and New

"The performances are spotless: ​Kajsa Dahlbäck’s soprano is pure and agile, and her fellow musicians all acquit themselves splendidly when given their chance to shine."

Martin Anderson

May 6, 2021

The accordion in polite society: smiles and sighs
Reviews

The accordion in polite society: smiles and sighs

The accordion in polite society: smiles and sighs

"This is more than just a light-hearted historical entertainment, as it concludes with a heavenly version of Casta diva by Bellini, delivered with an emotional human touch that takes the listener’s breath away and would make Maria Callas green with envy."

Kare Eskola

May 6, 2021

From runo roots to the UZone lair
Reviews

From runo roots to the UZone lair

From runo roots to the UZone lair

"The JuuriJuhla-RotFest (Roots Festival) takes place in Espoo each year and says it has its own roots in the pelimanni folk dance music, although most of the concerts range much wider. It featured top names on the Finnish roots music scene."

Simon Broughton

April 14, 2021

Playful and vivacious
Reviews

Playful and vivacious

Playful and vivacious

"The album is musically diverse. Clocking in at just over half an hour, it is short enough to make the listener wish for a couple of extra tracks, but as such it also leaves an appetite for the band’s next album."

Laura Korhonen

April 8, 2021

“And one man in his time plays many parts”
Reviews

“And one man in his time plays many parts”

“And one man in his time plays many parts”

"Pianist Cecil Taylor appeared on the Tampere Jazz Happening stage with his European Quintet [in 1998.] What ensued was a remarkable journey through sound and vision."

Petri Silas

April 8, 2021

Don’t let the name fool you
Reviews

Don’t let the name fool you

Don’t let the name fool you

"While this hard-swinging combo is stylistically firmly rooted in the past, the delivery is rather fresh."

Jan-Erik Holmberg

April 8, 2021

Leading from the bassline
Reviews

Leading from the bassline

Leading from the bassline

"Mäensivu also has three strong originals on the disc, saving the best for last: closing tune The Lemur is also the perfect showcase for her bass playing, scampering agilely as a lemur up a tree."

Wif Stenger

April 8, 2021

Multi-instrumentalists and eight drummers in acoustic landscapes
Reviews

Multi-instrumentalists and eight drummers in acoustic landscapes

Multi-instrumentalists and eight drummers in acoustic landscapes

"There seems to be no bounds to the sheer imagination poured into the sound worlds and effects inhabiting this album."

Laura Korhonen

April 8, 2021

Jazz tradition with modern spices
Reviews

Jazz tradition with modern spices

Jazz tradition with modern spices

"Riitta Paakki and her band never show off. They work together admirably well, delivering a delightful musical experience."

Marita Nyrhinen

April 8, 2021

Eminently competent Finnish jazz vocalist
Reviews

Eminently competent Finnish jazz vocalist

Eminently competent Finnish jazz vocalist

"Aili Ikonen is a breath of fresh air in the firmament of Finnish contemporary vocal artists and vocal jazz."

Marita Nyrhinen

April 8, 2021

A grower and a keeper
Reviews

A grower and a keeper

A grower and a keeper

"Perhaps that’s Kämäräinen’s superpower: He manages to sound like a bandmember even when occupying the sonic space all by himself. What an absolute gem of a disc Timo Kämäräinen has come up with."

Petri Silas

April 8, 2021

Manipulating time
Reviews

Manipulating time

Manipulating time

"The delicate interplay flourishes on the tetchy and heavy groove of Zomp, the hypnotic pulse of Kobi and the polyrhythmic drive of Telemagenta. Live Recordings 2019–2020 is a slam dunk of restrained energy and vivid communication."

Petri Silas

April 8, 2021

Fun in a serious way
Reviews

Fun in a serious way

Fun in a serious way

"Tango-stomping, disco bass lines on tuba, Brazilian carnival rhythms, twisted country and ditto dixie, are some of the ingredients. But you will also find continental romantics and dystopian free-tonal characteristics in the melodies."

Jan-Erik Holmberg

April 8, 2021

The tension between music and concept art
Reviews

The tension between music and concept art

The tension between music and concept art

"On the whole, this disc remains with the listener for longer than one would expect from its adventurous musical content, but its impressiveness is not because of activism or political relevance but because of the tension between music and concept art on the one hand and between political and absolute music on the other."

Kare Eskola

March 29, 2021

Ville Ojanen goes intimate with a luxury lineup
Reviews

Ville Ojanen goes intimate with a luxury lineup

Ville Ojanen goes intimate with a luxury lineup

"The tunes are close to traditional danceable folk music (from different regions) but always with personal twists and turns."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

February 5, 2021

Tradition is an inexhaustible source of joy
Reviews

Tradition is an inexhaustible source of joy

Tradition is an inexhaustible source of joy

"Sväng have now returned to their roots in a refreshing and energetic rediscovery of tradition – an inexhaustible source of joy."

Amanda Kauranne

February 5, 2021

Rich re-interpretation of early music
Reviews

Rich re-interpretation of early music

Rich re-interpretation of early music

"Ensemble Gamut!'s repertoire ranges from daringly and freshly arranged folk songs to Medieval and Renaissance compositions. Improvisation and electronics are also included."

Riikka Hiltunen

February 5, 2021

Frigg sounding brilliantly like Frigg
Reviews

Frigg sounding brilliantly like Frigg

Frigg sounding brilliantly like Frigg

"Twenty years, ten albums, tours around the world, awards and nominations at home and rave reviews abroad: Frigg can justly be described as one of the greatest success stories in Finnish folk music."

Riikka Hiltunen

February 5, 2021

Daily life and versatile musical dialogues
Reviews

Daily life and versatile musical dialogues

Daily life and versatile musical dialogues

"The debut album of kantele player and singer-songwriter Marjo Smolander is an interesting combination of different musical collaborations."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

February 5, 2021

Archaic-modern invitation to dance
Reviews

Archaic-modern invitation to dance

Archaic-modern invitation to dance

"This trio has once again produced a visionary album with a great deal of variety. The swing is often infectious – one longs to dance at a live gig performed by this band! "

Riikka Hiltunen

February 5, 2021

This tradition goes to eleven!
Reviews

This tradition goes to eleven!

This tradition goes to eleven!

"This is a stunning début that serves as textbook study in how to keep one’s own tradition alive in today’s urban and multicultural world."

Amanda Kauranne

February 5, 2021

Taking the lament tradition into here and now
Reviews

Taking the lament tradition into here and now

Taking the lament tradition into here and now

"Also the real thing is included, with Kuittinen sometimes letting her voice go all rough and raw, affected by grief. Her voice does not always sound beautiful, but that surely feels like a welcome experience when surrounded by the slick music production sound of the 2020s."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

February 5, 2021

Folk song with soul
Reviews

Folk song with soul

Folk song with soul

"The group dextrously takes up some of the most worn classics of Finnish folk music [- -] and brings up a completely new and compelling aspect. Otra’s arrangements are surprising, fresh and adventurous."

Amanda Kauranne

February 5, 2021

Distinctive dreamscapes
Reviews

Distinctive dreamscapes

Distinctive dreamscapes

“Ánnámáret is part of a powerful new force in Sámi music and identity.”

Simon Broughton

February 5, 2021

An expatriate composer’s elegant collection
Reviews

An expatriate composer’s elegant collection

An expatriate composer’s elegant collection

"The performances are lively and delicate throughout, resulting in an elegant and enjoyable whole."

Anna Pulkkis

December 4, 2020

A sense of direction in contemporary choral music
Reviews

A sense of direction in contemporary choral music

A sense of direction in contemporary choral music

"Generally speaking, exploratory modernist choral music is taxing to both perform and listen to, but this disc is an exception. Both Antti Auvinen and Sampo Haapamäki take the listener on a roller-coaster ride."

Kare Eskola

December 4, 2020

Mäntyjärvi makes the choir break out in orchestral colours
Reviews

Mäntyjärvi makes the choir break out in orchestral colours

Mäntyjärvi makes the choir break out in orchestral colours

"Mäntyjärvi makes such full use of the potential of the choral sound and the registers of the human voice in his harmonies that the colours begin to flicker like the Northern lights, superbly enriching the text."

Kare Eskola

December 4, 2020

Imaginative sounds, tireless energy
Reviews

Imaginative sounds, tireless energy

Imaginative sounds, tireless energy

"Sebastian Hilli’s 'confluence / divergence', a 30-minute work for solo guitar and small ensemble sweeps the listener straight into a breath-taking flow of imaginative sounds, produced through a variety of unconventional playing techniques."

Anna Pulkkis

December 4, 2020

Doppelgängerin
Reviews

Doppelgängerin

Doppelgängerin

"​This programme is predicated on the twin abilities of Virpi Räisänen, who began her career as a violinist and then blossomed as a mezzo. It was stimulated by the knowledge that Holst’s Four Songs for Voice and Violin were intended for a single performer, singing and playing, but had never yet been recorded by a sole musician."

Martin Anderson

December 4, 2020

Tim Ferchen’s rhythmic jigsaw puzzles are intense
Reviews

Tim Ferchen’s rhythmic jigsaw puzzles are intense

Tim Ferchen’s rhythmic jigsaw puzzles are intense

"With non-pitched percussion instruments in particular, Ferchen builds up an incredible intensity based not only on rhythm but also on bright and surprising colours."

Kare Eskola

December 4, 2020

Antti Auvinen – the most of everything
Reviews

Antti Auvinen – the most of everything

Antti Auvinen – the most of everything

"Auvinen’s finest talent is in the chillingly clear musical images that emerge from the pressurised fury."

Kare Eskola

December 4, 2020

Let the People Sing
Reviews

Let the People Sing

Let the People Sing

"There are moments, when Kostiainen does things that give the ears a good tweak: one striking passage has minimalist oscillating flutes above a lyrical cello line; at another point a saxophone emerges unexpectedly from the orchestra; and the bells and trumpets that open the Missa Paschalis, and the passage for baritone and chorus that they introduce, recall Kokkonen’s The Last Temptations directly."

Martin Anderson

December 4, 2020

Communing with ghosts on the island of souls
Reviews

Communing with ghosts on the island of souls

Communing with ghosts on the island of souls

"A poignant soundscape that works equally well as a standalone work and as a movie score."

Wif Stenger

November 5, 2020

Highlights from the lowlands
Reviews

Highlights from the lowlands

Highlights from the lowlands

"The trio swings seriously and authentically, but also gives a taste of the countryside Americana. Sandberg’s clean execution is sophisticated."

Jan-Erik Holmberg

November 5, 2020

Lighthouse beam on a stormy night
Reviews

Lighthouse beam on a stormy night

Lighthouse beam on a stormy night

"The overall sound is eerie, nocturnal and wintry – yet somehow comforting, as deep forests are for people of the North."

Wif Stenger

November 5, 2020

A thriving piano alliance
Reviews

A thriving piano alliance

A thriving piano alliance

"The collaboration flourishes beautifully, with the two pianos almost becoming one through spectacular voicings."

Jan-Erik Holmberg

November 5, 2020

Third Stream, the new Finnish rendition
Reviews

Third Stream, the new Finnish rendition

Third Stream, the new Finnish rendition

"Veering from the vast, brooding and sedate [- -] to the petite, playful and sanguine [- -], the group establishes a solid interface of unique inventions."

Petri Silas

November 5, 2020

Glorious fusion from a true pioneer
Reviews

Glorious fusion from a true pioneer

Glorious fusion from a true pioneer

"In this day and age, there is nothing thrilling or novel in calling someone a trailblazer. However, some of us were mapping new areas long before it became fashionable or something to aspire to. One such singular visionary is composer and improviser Sakari Kukko."

Petri Silas

November 5, 2020

Keeping it free through the generations
Reviews

Keeping it free through the generations

Keeping it free through the generations

"At times surprisingly groovy, at others surreptitiously enticing, Vodjanoi is free jazz for the future."

Petri Silas

November 5, 2020

All’s Well That Ends Well
Reviews

All’s Well That Ends Well

All’s Well That Ends Well

"Sid Hille and Abdissa Assefa managed to create and capture some truly momentous and mesmerizing moments. The end result is Here – Beyond the Infinite, a defiant ritual to ward off the wraiths of the pandemic."

Petri Silas

November 5, 2020

Prepared piano with an Arabic accent
Reviews

Prepared piano with an Arabic accent

Prepared piano with an Arabic accent

"Kari Ikonen alternately figure skates, tap dances and prances across the keys, sounding like a jaunty, syncopated one-man band."

Wif Stenger

November 5, 2020

Gorgeous tones from the North
Reviews

Gorgeous tones from the North

Gorgeous tones from the North

"The Earth, Spring’s Daughter is dramatic and gorgeously sounding. [-] Saivo elegantly combines contemporary aesthetics, associations to nature, and a mythological dimension."

Anna Pulkkis

August 27, 2020

The gift of runo singing
Reviews

The gift of runo singing

The gift of runo singing

"The two discs complement each other, and listening to the double album you notice once again how beautiful and interesting the human voice is – in its simplicity and richness."

Amanda Kauranne

August 13, 2020

Eclectic yet original
Reviews

Eclectic yet original

Eclectic yet original

"I immediately allow myself to throw all thoughts of genre out of the window and just enjoy the music. The communication between the musicians is the key here."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

August 13, 2020

A journey in the fascinating world of sounds
Reviews

A journey in the fascinating world of sounds

A journey in the fascinating world of sounds

"The listening experience is refreshing and reminds me of a rainforest landscape, with a lot of small exciting sounds joining in from here and there, rather than presenting catchy tunes."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

August 13, 2020

A unique voice and brilliant jouhikko playing
Reviews

A unique voice and brilliant jouhikko playing

A unique voice and brilliant jouhikko playing

"With everything else removed, the most distinguishable elements of his music remain: his unique voice and brilliant jouhikko playing."

Riikka Hiltunen

August 13, 2020

Power within
Reviews

Power within

Power within

"The disc probes deep into the soul while simultaneously being so strongly connected to the environment that it is dedicated to the wilderness. The music is full of the power of nature, the aches and pains of finding the wings of one’s soul, and the joy of discovery when one finally finds them."

Amanda Kauranne

August 13, 2020

Soul-jazz-blues with a Bulgarian twist
Reviews

Soul-jazz-blues with a Bulgarian twist

Soul-jazz-blues with a Bulgarian twist

"There are a lot of intriguing musical landscapes, from big epic sounds and suggestive drones to a cappella singing."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

August 13, 2020

A moment of peace
Reviews

A moment of peace

A moment of peace

"Many tunes make me think of traditional wedding musicians: on their way to the ceremony, taking some jazzy turns half-way there, allowing themselves to roam free and aim for the horizon before arriving safely at their destination."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

August 13, 2020

Finnish Music Quarterly
c/o Music Finland
Keilasatama 2 A
FI-02150 Espoo
Finland
ISSN 0782-1069
editor@fmq.fi
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