EPISODE

Nice to see this Finnish guitarist added here. Nowadays Jukka Hauru is best remembered, at least by common Finns, as a music critic. His career as a musician - active mainly in the late 60's and the 70's - had an emphasis on being a session/live guitarist for several groups and artists. In the early 70's he also was a producer for a brief period (notorious for rejecting the future-classic prog band Haikara; in the end he only produced the Kalevala debut and his own debut!). Later he composed some songs for e.g. KOM Teatteri. Hauru's solo ouput consists of two albums only, Information (1972) and this one released by Love Records in 1975. Both are instrumental fusion comparable to Frank Zappa or Mahavishnu Orchestra. It's sad how few people, apart from the critics, noticed his albums at the time, maybe because Jukka Tolonen (Tasavallan Presidentti, solo) was THE guitar hero back then.

The opening track 'Enema Syringe' is a groovy, lively, fast-paced piece. At first it seems to focus self-poignantly on Hauru's guitar skills, but the whole group is totally involved, and also synths have solo moments. 'When I Met My Wondergirl' lives up to its charming title as a dreamy and romantic composition. These two tracks feature the bass legend Pekka Pohjola and the saxophone legend Pekka Pöyry. 'Waltz Bourgeois' contains lots of saxes played by Teemu Salminen. This is my least favourite; it attempts to be witty and humorous without really taking off.

The whole B-side was composed earlier than the A-side, ie. in the autumn of 1973, after the military takeover in Chile. As one can guess, the music is more 'serious' and complex, especially in the 12½-minute 'Episode (Santiago 11.9. 73)'. Sonically it sometimes reminds me of early Pekka Pohjola albums such as Pihkasilmä Kaarnakorva or Harakka Bialoipokku. 'Elegy (for Victor Jara)' is a beautiful, moody piece in a slow tempo, starring bright guitar and electric piano sounds. 'Goodbye Pinochet' is the shortest track at three minutes, and easy to enjoy by any listener who likes jazz.

Episode is not a faultless masterpiece, but it's a strong work with excellent musicianship, and the music has good balance between technics and emotion. The album was re-released on vinyl in 2016.