CHANGING TIMES AND MOVEMENTS - LIVE IN FINLAND AND SWEDEN 1970-1971

TASAVALLAN PRESIDENTTI, the other one of the major Finnish prog bands of the original prog era (alongside Wigwam) were an active and highly respected live act, and yet they didn't release any live albums back then. This double vinyl/cd set, already the third TP live release from Svart Records in recent times, IMHO comes closest to what really would have been a worthy official live album in its own time already. My countryman Mortte has reviewed Pop Liisa 1 (2016) and Live in Lambertland (2019) that both feature Jussi Raittinen as the vocalist. They both are somewhat limited what comes to the set lists -- the first one has two tracks only and the latter concentrates on the album Lambertland. Changing Times and Movements consists of three gigs, the original member Frank Robson as the vocalist, and on saxes and flute Pekka Pöyry who had replaced Juhani Aaltonen -- they both were Finland's major jazz names at the time. Although the three gigs' set lists partially overlap here, the 85- minute whole offers an interesting and horizon- widening view into TP as a live act at the time, not least because there are several songs the band never recorded for their studio albums.

This handsome gatefold release features detailed, well written liner notes on the band's early history in general and on each gig/ song in this set in such depth which would be a severe exaggeration in a review. But let's start.

TP participated in the first Ruisrock Festival (that's the most legendary yearly rock happening in Finland) in August 1970. Also the British prog bands Colosseum and Family were there. 'Going Back' is a tight jazz-rock song composed by Robson. According to the liner notes, the TP members didn't even remember the song which never appeared elsewhere! 'Ain't Ya Coming Home, Babe' is a Blodwyn Pig cover (yes, the band Mick Abrahams founded after exiting Jethro Tull). The extended performance is full of energy. 'Tis Me Tis You' was recorded for TP's second album where it's played acoustically and in a slightly faster tempo compared to this live version. The sound quality of the Ruisrock gig is fairly good, just like it is on the two other gigs too.

Two vinyl sides are devoted to the gig two weeks later in Stockholm's Skeppsholmen. The five-song set features nice if not very many-sided selection from TP' first two albums plus the mentioned Blodwyn Pig cover, now played in a jazzier way. Heady, steamy and energetic jazz-rock with lots of saxophone; unfortunately no acoustic guitar or any keyboards are used on any of these gigs.

The third gig in this release took place in the Eastern- Finnish small town Lappeenranta in May 1971, following the second studio album's release. The gig was part of the Finnish Broadcasting Company's series of radio-broadcast gigs from all over the country. In between the songs you hear the program's host speaking in Finnish. And this five-song set is the most interesting for the rarity factor.

'Whirlwind Nightmare' and 'Gigolo' were Tolonen- Robson compositions, but never recorded by TP, instead they were in '72 recorded by Kirka, a very popular Finnish pop singer. Also 'The Old Woman' (written by Robson) entered into Kirka's album. 'Deep Thinker' (another song from TP II) is featured also in the Stockholm set, and a die-hard fan will enjoy analyzing how the performance has evolved. 'Impressions of India' was to appear on Jukka Tolonen's solo album Summer Games (1973).

As I said, this release is THE live album of Tasavallan Presidentti's early phase, and the 50 years' perspective doesn't make it any less noteworthy for all fans of the band.