JUKKA GUSTAVSON & HOTTOE: TOINEN MAISEMA

Ex-Wigwam keyboardist-vocalist-composer Jukka Gustavson has a large and many-sided solo discography. In this Millennium he has perhaps operated more in the jazz genre than in rock-rooted fusion, but this album features more rock attitude than many others. As on many other albums there is a wide spectre of styles, but always his own style is very recognizable. In this sense it reminds a lot of his excellent 1995 album Kadonnut Häviämättömiin. The two first tracks sung in English are very groovy, bluesy jazz-rock (or jazzy blues-rock) that makes your body move. Pekka Nylund's spicy electric guitar almost steals the show on 'Road Movie'.

'Helge' is a Finnish-language song with mellower and more keyboard-oriented sound. The lyrics seem to memorize a roadie in the prog era; Tasavallan Presidentti & Wigwam and their members are mentioned. Nice, symphatetic song, only slightly too repetitive in the chorus. 'Muinaismaisema' (An ancient landscape) is a peaceful, bright-sounding instrumental with an emphasis on acoustic guitar and synths. 'Juhlapuheissa ja kahvikutsuilla' (In jubilee speeches and coffee parties) is light, Canterburyish jazz rock, and instead of singing it features speeches, a party saboteur included; an amusing satire on political life.

'Pitkällä matkalla' (On a long journey) is romantic and mellow, lyrically a dedication to Jukka's wife, or the marriage itself. 'Suomen kulttuurin agentit' (The agents of Finnish culture) is rather annoying: musically light, jam-styled backing of ironic, sociocritical dialogues, actually really useless in the musical sense. The title track is a groovy fusion instrumental, an average composition in Jukka's scale. 'Grow Grain grow' starts in a dreamy tone in slow tempo, but with Steve Winwood -reminding vocals the 9-minute song gets quite bluesy. Again good guitar work and lots of groove. The closing instrumental (= People of the new dawn) is happy and uplifting, featuring the trumpet of Verneri Pohjola (yes, he is a son of Pekka Pohjola).

So, I find this album quite similar with Kadonnut Häviämättömiin (which I gave full rating). Maybe not as good though. One annoying non-musical throwaway track, more blues tones, some average compositions... Maybe still worth four stars.