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