BOOGIE JUNGLE

Boogie Jungle was released three years after the very proggy debut People No Names, and like the title says, is funky boogie rock. The band saw some big changes in the three years between the albums: Lido Salonen changed from bass to guitar, Ari Vaahtera took the bass duties, Zape Leppänen & Beaver Aitto-Oja came in (vocals and drums, respectively). Only the lead guitarist Matti Kurkinen kept his role.

In fact, there are only traces of prog left, but the music is in general of very high quality. It's a pleasant and very enjoyable album if you are into the funkier side of rock. Matti Kurkinen was a very capable guitarist, and it's tragic that he passed away soon after this album was made. Salonen on second guitar fulfills his duties and brings some beef to the sound. The rhythm section is tight, and even if Leppänen is a bit generic in the vocals, he has a pleasant voice. The star of the album is really Matti Kurkinen, this is a guitar album.

3 stars, it is a very good album, but in no way essential. Better than the debut, and one that will stay on my playlist for a long time.