ABRAHAM'S BLUE REFRAIN

The Finnish prog group KALEVALA (best known for their legendary debut album People No Names, 1972) sadly lost their celebrated guitarist Matti Kurkinen in the summer of 1975, and it was especially the singing drummer "Zape" "Limousine" Leppänen that pushed the band and its leader, composer and guitarist Juha "Lido" Salonen, to stay active. Salonen didn't want a new guitarist, but the group started to seek a keyoardist instead. Raimo Karimo joined them in the early 1976, although he's only playing on two tracks of the third album -- in which the word Orchestra was added to the band name.

All nine tracks were composed by Salonen, some of them together with Leppänen. The lyrics were written by Wigwam's Jim Pembroke, except for the songs of the preceding single ('Playground' / 'Lighthouse') that had lyrics of Peter O'Neill, Irish troubadour living in Finland at the time. Musically the album more or less continues in the fairly straightforward rock style of the disappointing second album Boogie Jungle (1975) and yet it sounds stronger as a whole. The moods are generally darker, understandably so after the accidental death of Kurkinen.

'Silver Fish' is a sweaty, fast-paced rock'n'roll song. Leppänen's raspy vocals remind me of FAMILY's Roger Chapman without the lamb-like vibrato. Neither 'Lighthouse' is highly progressive as a chorus-repeating composition, but it sounds pretty good and has great Moog parts by Karimo. 'Forever Train' is a fast, semi-proggy and very dynamic rock song full of energy in the playing.

The album's undeniable highlight is the spiritually inspired, two-part title piece (6:40) which has the clearest prog tendencies and the most powerful emotional feel. Quite beautiful especially on the slower moments. Backing vocals are provided by Marianne Nyman and Jim Pembroke, the latter also playing piano on this piece only. Leppänen is admittedly a strong vocalist who is equally convincing on the rock intensity and on the calmer expression.

The album's references to drug abuse are at their clearest on the rocking 'Brown'll Might Suit You' and the slightly RUSH-reminding instrumental 'Panamian Red'. The remaining three rock oriented vocal songs are pretty average.

The album sold very weakly in Finland but it was marketed into several continental countries, helped by the band's touring with Poland's SBB and later with the French prog legends ANGE. Kalevala disbanded in 1978 -- but not entirely for good.