KAARMELAUTAKUNTA

Well, there's honestly not much to say about this one. It's Alamaailman Vasarat, and it's good. Basically, the sound Alamaailman Vasarat encompasses, for those unaware, is one of a heavy, horn-induced drug overdose in the desert (for the Eastern elements of course!), something similar to the sound former band Höyry-Kone encompassed, but not nearly as varied, and missing the operatic vocals that certainly set that band's output well above this one's.

Essentially, the band plays instrumental, slightly jazzy, and typically very catchy music revolving around the heavy use of horns and the Egyptian scale. Käärmelautakunta, the bands' sophomore release, still remains my favorite release (yes, even more so than their newest, Maahan, which has been heavily praised). The album is a collection of similar sounding songs, none of which really stand out other than tracks 1, 2, and a few later tracks. While this may sound bland, it is far from it. They band as a whole manage to create a very involved, very well-performed musical soundscape, and it's one anyone who is a fan of bands like Secret Chiefs 3, Estradasphere, and others in this vein definitely deserves to hear. For first timers to the band, I'd recommend starting with this one, and then picking up their newest Maahan, which for the most part is, technically, a better album, but overall I still enjoy this one more.

Their first and third albums are pretty much skip-able, or only for collectors and fans, as much of their music is very same-same, and not much real development takes place through these albums, or truthfully, throughout this band's career.

Some may think I am discrediting the band and their music, but truthfully I am not. The album remains a fun, well-performed, and interesting array of Egyptian nuances and blare-horned competence (for lack of better way of explaining: this album has MANY Eastern influences throughout its course, in terms of the songwriting at hand). It's worth a listen, hell it's worth many listens, but I'd rather listen to both Estradasphere, Secret Chiefs 3, and especially Höyry-Kone (the most similar bands I can think of) any day, if for no reason other than the fact that so much more variety is showcased in those bands as opposed to on Alamaailman Vasarat's Käärmelautakunta.

In short, don't let the sample song on this site get you too excited, as it's likely that if you've heard it, you've essentially heard the whole album.

Recommended for fans of Avant music, the bands I mentioned above, jazz (sort of), and anyone who wants to hear some beautiful instrumental music. Certainly recommended, as said before, but not with the highest regards. Something like a straight-up 7.0 on my scale, or 3.5 stars on this one. So I have to choose. And I choose 3 stars, simply because this album pretty much embodies an album which I would describe as Good, but non-essential.

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