SIMPUKKA-AMPPELI

- First Review Of This Album -

This third album by the Finnish long-lived group is not among their best. Proggy elements are very few here, though A.N. have never been an unquestionable prog band. The album represents their laconic, personal style quite faithfully but remains rather forgettable compared to the better albums. Most songs are simple indie pop-rock with a strong emphasis on Tommi Liimatta's stiff vocals, even featuring regular chorus structures. Often the low-key manner in singing brings some sense of monotony; happily the playing is more up-beat and relaxed. As a lyricist Liimatta is always original. For example on 'Ajoratamaalaus' the protagonist is the painted line on the highway. In all the lyrics there are peculiar observations of everyday life, from an unusual point of view, and it's really hard to figure out what these persons are up to.

I may have to rate this album low in this prog environment, but it must be said that at the same time this is very easy one to have a listening pleasure in smaller scale. I mean it's harmless and fairly sympathetic pop-rock with a good dose of identifiable personality. Guitar is the leading instrument and it often plays good melodies. The pop sensibility here is easy to like, mostly free of commercial taste, and there's also much more variation and complexity in rhythm patterns than in mainstream pop/rock. For a newcomer who comes from the pop side of music rather than the prog side, this is a good aperitif after which it's good to continue into other, better and perhaps a bit more demanding albums.

I don't know how much it makes sense to review an album by an obscure West Siberian (ok, I mean Finnish) band who are not much known even in their own country and who are often not that much prog either. Here goes anyways.

Their third album sees Absoluuttinen Nollapiste slightly more straightforward that their first two that were filled with curveballs to say the least. It's also less proggy that some of their later material, but still very interesting pop/rock with progressive rock elements thrown in. They've often been compared to to their compatriot pioneers Wigwam, especially their poppier side and that rings true here as well.

Lyrics are an especially important part of this band and especially how they work together with vocal melodies and song structures. For example the slight variation used in the chorus of the opening track "Silti". Of course you have to know the language to be able to fully appreciate it. Most of the tracks are very good oddball offbeat pop songs, but there are a couple of weaker ones towards the end, such as the country pastiche "Heitto-ovet". 10-minute closing track "Viittä vaille sadetta" is a beautiful melancholic epic.

Three stars. Finns can add half a star.