HARD N' HORNY

This is the debut album of the arguably most important prog band ever to come from Finland. This is also the only album where they sing in Finnish (well, only a few of the Gustavson tunes, but still).

Hard N' Horny is an album of opposites. On the other hand we have the Gustavson penned jazzy first side (of the lp) and then Pembroke's ambitious but still very poppy Henry suite filling side two. This means that at least for me personally, I can't feel that the album flows naturally.

Most of Gustavson's bluesy and jazzy songs on side one are pleasant listening, but I must say that Neron muistolle; Hyvää yötä makes me cringe in all its pretentiousness. But even the weaker songs are carried with is extraordinarily good playing. It's incredible that Gustavson was such a virtuoso on keys even at this early stage.

Pembroke's Henry suite on the other hand is pure gold in my opinion. Fantastic little melodies carry it all the way to the end and it never feels to drag on. Quite the contrary, I would like to have heard a bit more.

My cd edition has Luulosairas as a bonus, which was the first released Wigwam single. I wonder why they did not include it on the album as it's one of their best composition (and lyrics) ever.

So, to conclude, as the album is pleasant and really promising but has some certain flaws, 3 stars it is.