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VÄISTYY MIELEN YÖViimaProg Folk4.26 | 74 ratings |
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kenethlevine
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Special Collaborator Prog-Folk Team |
After 15 years of recording silence, Finland's VIIMA have re-emerged as if almost no time has elapsed. Only one
personnel change since "Kahden Kuun Sirpit" sees keyboardist Kimmo Lähteenmäki step back into a mere guest role, replaced by Risto
Pahlama. The album title means "The Night of the Mind is Gone", which might just be a FInnish expression that
doesn't translate all that well literally. Most of the track titles are earth centered at some level and the music, with its
ancient folk vibe, suits these themes well.
It's unfortunate that the 18 minute centerpiece, while radiant in parts, seems to meander and I have trouble connecting with it emotionally, unlike the vivacious prog folk of the opener and the methodical buildup and metamorphosis of "Perhonen" (butterfly) with perhaps Risto Pahlama's best vocal and Mikko Uusi-Oukari's consummate guitar solo. But then we have come to expect searing melodic leads from VIIMA. The finale which translates to "Mountain Peace" channels a Buddha or two, culminating in a lengthy organ coda that is already provoking in me ecstatic waves of frisson. If it doesn't for you, try headphones; if it still doesn't, I am sorry. If there weren't already an abundance of stellar prog folk, particularly Nordic style, in the last 15 years, I might have missed VIIMA more, but that's all changed now. They are on the radar again. I hope this latest is not just an every decade and a half presentation, or even worse, a nightcap on a sparkling if unprolific run.
kenethlevine |
4/5 |
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