JOUTSENEN JUJU

Rock music from the 70s still hides a lot of secrets - one of them is album Joutsenen Juju. Mr. Ilpo Saastamoinen known from Piirpauke, gathered here the cream of the Finnish jazzmen (including Juhani Aaltonen, Pekka Sarmanto, Edward Vesala). They created a very interesting and original folk-spirit album dressed in prog robes.

We start with delicate but royal fanfare announcing the beginning - idyllic folk mood surrounds us. Following instruments start the show: saxophone, vibraphone, flute and guitar playing in the background - the last of them takes the lead in the next part entering into numerous dialogues with the rest. In the middle of first track we have a moment of peace with low sounds of double bass and oriental instrument (on this album Ilpo Saastamoinen uses a large range of instruments: guitar, Domra, Zither, Yangqin) Then the guitar returns again - in her footsteps go: saxophone and all the rest of the vibraphones along with unusual vocals. The end of the song is full of silence and reverie ... interrupted by another frivolous folk melody. This dance is endless. Then, in contrast, we have an extremely sad atmosphere of a funeral epitaph at a slow pace. We can immerse ourselves in contemplation of an ethnic world that doesn't exist any more. In the second part Ilpo's guitar leads us through the memories. The third song is characterized by the entrance of the violin, which plays a melody that reminds me of something - it has a very cinematic character. The second half starts with another folk melody - we definitely are here for some fun in the inn or around the campfire. Until the saxophone starts to shine - here we have a crazy journey through the evening with the setting sun transforming into the night. Saxophone fluently intertwines with the guitar, vibraphone and all the rest... Again a sad climate, but this time some incredible mourning (more concerning the whole civilization than just old times as for me) is created by an arrangement of Bach's song - here it's quite modest, calm and spiritual. Another track unnoticed opens before us the way to cosmic dimensions. We return to earth to a sad folk (perhaps again funeral) march with somber vocals, saxophone, flute, guitar and vibraphone (an eagle-owl is sitting on a withered tree with the evil glare). At the end there is again quick folk accent that leaves us a lot of hope, warm and slight consternation.

Conclusion: excellent album with lots of flavors and giving great fun with catching the next, very richly used instruments (there are also: kantele (singing?), Bouzouki, mandolin, metallophone). The first sounds remind me of Gryphon - but only for a moment. You can compare the album to Samla Mammas Manna - but with a more introspective character, and of course it's more Finnish. I recommend it!