SOTA KIROTTU!

This is the fourth album by the Finnish Folk Rock group that were active circa 1996-2008. The Finnish lyrics (mostly written by female vocalist Kaisa Saari, who also plays recorder and tin whistle) are set to Medieval-style folk music. Four tracks are Tradiotional tunes, two from France (# 6 and 11), one from Scotland and one from Scandinavia, and the other songs are composed by either Saari or Vesa Vigman, except one by Tapio Mattlar, who's also responsible of the Trad. translations.

The longish opener is a Scottish pirate story, originally called 'Henry Martin', a true epic ballad in the original folklore meaning of the words (ie. not a sentimental "ballad", nor a prog "epic"). The whole album, although consisting of shorter tracks, continues in more or less the same approach; the atavistic, folklorish lyrics, and the compositions that proceed in a rather constant, invariable way, being quite free of pop music's catchy chorus structure, or rock elements in the performances. Compared to Hepsankeikka album (2000), this one's much more orthodox Folk album full of violin; it's tamer basic Folk even for the vocals. Kaisa Saari's bright vocals sound now more professional and less personal. Sadly this all means, in my opinion, that the album lacks the same charm.

Anyway it must be stressed that this is pretty good Folk album. None of the 12 tracks - one being an instrumental - are boring or irritating at all, and many are quite nice, guaranteed to please if you enjoy Medieval-inspired Folk, and if the language isn't a problem. BLACKMORE'S NIGHT serves as some faint reference even though they come much closer to pop and rock, as well as the usual suspects such as FAIRPORT CONVENTION. Only so and so one can think of this as Folk Rock, so strongly the Folk aspect is dominating. Some more Rock flavour would have surely improved the album...

The Scandinavian Traditional 'Kolme (Byssan lull)' has a lovely melancholic melody, and the closing track 'Veisuu' is a beautiful song for solo voice - comparable to KATE BUSH's 'Handsome Cabin Boy'. The arrangements that are collaborated by the band and the producer Pekka Lehti take good advantage of all the Folk instruments. Literally "Good, but non-essential" 3-star album. Not among their best ones.