THE GROUP

This is the only album by The Group, a Finnish jazz-rock/fusion quartet with established members. Bassist-composer Pekka Pohjola (formerly of WIGWAM) and drummer Vesa Aaltonen (TASAVALLAN PRESIDENTTI) had played in MADE IN SWEDEN just before this formation. Keyboardist-composer Olli Ahvenlahti had a history in jazz scene, and the guitarist Seppo Tyni was the youngest of them.

The music is closer to jazz than rock. But it's not so lively in a jazzy way; the longish compositions have a lot of repetitiveness and the melodies are not very good ones. I could almost say it's a bit boring album, as "professional" and well-done as it is. Pekka Pohjola definitely composes better music by himself than together with Ahvenlahti. After two listenings I don't remember much of anything of this music; it didn't touch my feelings really. Not that there were any bad, irritating things, maybe it just was too surpriseless and safe. For example guitar playing is more or less in the same style throughout the album, and on the keyboards there aren't much variety either. Anyway I wish someone here have enjoyed this more than I did and writes a more favourable and detailed review.