ATLANTIS

This Nova was a short-lived Finnish quintet from Helsinki, formed in 1975 around the talents of pianist, composer and keyboardist Antti Ortamo.The original line-up featured also drummer Jukka Marjala, bassist Veikko Kumpula and guitarist Junnu Kostia.After a single on Love Records, Kumpula and Kostia quit and their replacements were guitarists Micca Vasenius and Jouko Helatie along with bassist Petri Peltola.In 1976 they recorded their sole release ''Atlantis'', again a Love Records product.

Nova played a soft seminal Symphonic Rock with an evident Scandinavian aura due to the slightly psych-tinged rhythm section and the display of Finnish lyrics, still they endorsed their style with strong jazzy and bluesy elements, like on the short ''Kaupungin naiset''.The rest of the album consists of three long cuts, apparently centered around Ortamo's work on acoustic piano and Hammond organ.The music is very gentle with Classical and jazzy spices, a bit similar to FOCUS, but less grandiose and technically efficient.Generally this goes more into atmospheric and quasi-melodic realms with some minimalistic interruptions for piano themes and vocal performances, there are even some acoustic textures to be found.The album lacks a certain level of dynamics, it swirls around mellow organ waves and piano variations with the occasional guitar twists and solos, however the arrangements are pretty nice with interesting ideas, the last track ''Vanha surullinen laulu'' being the most competent one, showing some tendency towards E.L.P.-like organ experimentations and introducing the sound of melancholic synth lines, supported by quirky jazzy interplays and the standard Scandinavian lyrical essence.

Nova disbanded soon after the album was launched.''Atlantis'' did not sell very well and the limited calls for live performances were the basic reasons for the band' demise.

Semi-symphonic 70's Scandinavian Prog, covered by light jazzy elements.Elaborate, lengthy tracks with a relaxed atmosphere, a bit similar to compatriots TABULA RASA.Recommended, CD reissue out only by the Korean label Si-Wan.