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Album of the month : December 2000

 

 

Ismo Alanko Säätio ( FIN) :

" Sisäinen solarium " (Poko )

 

A living legend in his native Finland, ISMO ALANKO will never get the international recognition he still deserves : Too weird, too heedless of fashion, too independent and free-minded. And I don't even mention the fact that he sings in Finnish ! But for more than 20 years - With HASSISEN KONE, SIELUN VELJET, as a solo artist, or leading his current all-acoustic project SÄÄTIÖ - the man has been delivering some of the most inspired, exciting, and uplifting music ever released. This new album is no exception to the rule : ALANKO at his very best on one of his major outputs !

Being aware of the impact of an arresting opener , ALANKO hits hard since the beginning with the astounding Kirskainen Hyvätyinen. You've never heard a song like this before: Some kind of neurotic northern version of ADRIANO CELENTANO's Prisencolinensinainciusol backed with obsessive buddhist percussion and Lappish female choir ( Does that make any sense to anyone ?). Incidentally, those VÄRTTINÄ-style singers are a recurrent and most distinctive element of " Sisäinen solarium".It's them, for instance, who bring the slow-burning and harrowing Kosovo to its climax, or enliven the intricate melody of Paha silmä : A perfect combination of propulsive rhythms, great guitar hooks and keening chorus, much in the most effective SIELUN VELJET tradition. Tyhmää and Media are both as short as their titles : The former is a truly irresistible rhythmic stampede, while the other displays one of the album's catchiest melody, enhanced with fine psychedelic licks. With the languid Datsun, ISMO ALANKO SÄÄTIÖ evokes how CALEXICO could sound if they drew their inspiration from the steppes instead of the Mojave desert : brushed drums, spooky accordion ( Courtesy of Kimmo Pohjonen who does a truly outstanding job throughout the album), slightly unhinged guitar work, not forgetting ALANKO's disgruntled tone.

Nothing in common with the pent-up energy that characterizes T , an absolute killer going full speed ahead with ALANKO screaming and the accordion going beserk while the others smash methodically their respective instruments to pieces. A must " live ", but preferably not at the front ! It contrasts heavily with the slow and haunting Sana leijui , a foretaste for the album's absolute highlight Vallankumous . Over an elastic synthetic bassline, this mesmerising piece mixes the pickaxe percussions of LEE DORSEY's Working in a coalmine, a groaning harmonica coming straight from a SERGIO LEONE western, a captivating theremin ( erm, not sure of that one…... ) theme, more stunning guitar works by Samuli Laiho ( who really deserves to be quoted), some daffy background grumbles, and what else ? Oh yes, another noteworthy appearance by the choir of Lappish singers ...

If - in spite of my pathetic efforts - you still have no idea of how this album sounds like, all you've got to do now is check by yourself. But please, don't complain if - just like me - you become a diehard fan and then feel compelled to purchase ISMO ALANKO's complete discography ( 19 albums ! !).

 

 

POKO RECORDS OY:

http://www.poko.fi

Mailto:pokorecords@poko.fi

Bookings: BELIDES OY:

http://www.belides.fi/

Mailto:maria.tarnaren@belides.fi

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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