FLYING HIGH, RUNNING FAST (AS HARVEST)

This review draws from my liner notes for the vinyl re-release, hence the very information-oriented approach and some citations from the group's leader Jukka Syrenius.

Flyin' High, Runnin' Fast was the second album by the Finnish group Elonkorjuu. Indeed the difference between the debut album Harvest Time (1972) and this one is so big that the record company's idea to translate the band name into English was at least understandable. The legendary debut album featuring tasty heavy prog with English vocals has become one of the priziest collector's items in the Finnish rock history. [NB: the rest of the discography would place this band under the Jazz Rock / Fusion subgenre without a question.]

The years between the albums were turbulent, Syrenius remembers. "My new musical acquaintances included Little Feat, The Band and Tower of Power, and my interest towards jazz grew bigger. I also went to study classical guitar and music theory." In the mid-seventies Elonkorjuu added funk flavour to their sound and continued further towards jazz. The decision to go totally instrumental was made in 1977.

Flyin' High, Runnin' Fast was produced by Vesa Aaltonen (best known as the drummer of Tasavallan Presidentti) who also guested on percussion. The other guest musician is the young trumpetist Simo Salminen. The laid back melodies and the charming sonic freshness of these six instrumentals were achieved by the guitars of Jukka Syrenius, keyboards of Pekka Tyni, alto sax & clarinet of Jari Perkiömäki and tenor sax of Jukka Unkila, not forgetting the rhythm section of the founding member Veli-Pekka Pessi and Veikko Noutio.

Music critics praised the album but the sales were very modest, as the Finnish musical climate had turned strongly against prog and fusion. Soon afterwards the group disbanded and Syrenius went to release music under his name, until Elonkorjuu was reformed in 2003.

I'm not sure how to rate this album. It's highly pleasant and happy-natured instrumental fusion leaning more on the jazz side, but not the most original representation of the genre, and the length of 34 minutes is rather short. Let's say "Good, but non-essential", ie. three stars. Plus a half.