Customer Reviews

Aitara

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
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When I first heard this album I found it irritating because the medium happenned to be my best friend singing Mie Tahon Tanssia on the playground when we were in 4th grade. Since then however, after actually listening to this cd, I was transported by the group's energetic lyrics, haunting vocals, beautiful melodies, and stunning instrumentation.

This is definitely one of Värttinä's most engaging and consistently perfect albums, if not in fact their best. Although Mie Tahon Tanssia will always have a special place in my heart, the energetic whirlwind of Katariina, the comforting rhythm and melody of Tumala, the beautious lament of Maamo, the powerful harmonies and alliterations of Niin Mie Mieltynen, the carefree hopefulness of Tammi's refrain, the changing melodies and quicksilver moods of Pirsta, the grimness and hope of Outona Omilla Maila's alternating melodies, the haunting dirgelike lyrics of Travuska, the magnetic and upbeat harmony and fast-paced lyrics of Yötulet, the lyrical chant and powerful, energizing build up and celebration of Kanunkaataja, and the sorrowful conclusion of the album with Aitara.

If all of that was not too much for the reader, I recommend that he or she race to the nearest music store or your Amazon.com shopping cart, come to think of it, and BUY THIS ALBUM. You won't regret it, and once you have enjoyed it there are 7 more by Värttinä, some more traditional, and some less.

By the way, the fact that these cds are in Finnish does not detract from their quality. In fact, the beautiful and unique language is one of the things that, in my opinion, makes the Värttinä so interesting. After listening to Värttinä's music for 7 years, I hae embarked on a quest to learn the language myself simply becuase I love this group so much. In fact, that is the only caveat I have about this album. Beware lest you become as obsessive as I am.

The haunting Finnish nights are vividly felt in the song Travuska. For those not familiar with "World Music" this is an excellent CD to start appeciating the wealth of music that is available outside of the US. The harmonies of the numerous female vocalists are astounding. Reviewing the English translation of the songs is also entertaining and gives a peek at the innocence that seems to still be present in the Finnish culture. Truly a refreshing CD!

The penetrating, slightly nasal female voices of traditional Finnish folk music join with an intense fusion backup band of guitar, bass, drums, organ, bouzouki, accordion, whistles, kantele, cimbalom and cumbus tanbur to create a uniquely stirring sound. Sometimes in dissonant harmony but often in unison or call-and-response style, the voices of female singers Sari and Mari Kaasinen, Kirsi Kahkonen and Sirpa Reiman stand out, unapologetic in their ethnicity yet blending splendidly with the accompaniments designed around them. The faster-paced numbers like #1, "Katariina", #2, "Tumala", #10, "Yotulet", and #12, Aitara", are particularly distinctive, with the singers' Finnish lyrics fired forth in an unrelenting, rapid staccato. (The lyrics to "Tumala", in which a woman tries to seduce a boy by bragging about her livestock, are also hilarious). "Travuska", is slower, dark and spooky, lamenting the loss of childhood, while the instrumental "Pirsta" sounds more neo-Celtic than neo-Scandinavian with its whistle, accordion and guitar instrumentals (perhaps a nod to the band's Celtic-oriented label, Green Linnet). Varttina's previous release was "Seleniko", also from Green Linnet/Xenophile, while their next is "Kokko" for Nonesuch.

This C.D. is wonderful. The voices of the women are energizing and haunting and the tempos are spirited and uplifting.

The penetrating, slightly nasal female voices of traditional Finnish folk music join with an intense fusion backup band of guitar, bass, drums, organ, bouzouki, accordion, whistles, kantele, cimbalom and cumbus tanbur to create a uniquely stirring sound. Sometimes in dissonant harmony but often in unison or call-and-response style, the voices of female singers Sari and Mari Kaasinen, Kirsi Kahkonen and Sirpa Reiman stand out, unapologetic in their ethnicity yet blending splendidly with the accompaniments designed around them. The faster-paced numbers like #1, "Katariina", #2, "Tumala", #10, "Yotulet", and #12, Aitara", are particularly distinctive, with the singers' Finnish lyrics fired forth in an unrelenting, rapid staccato. (The lyrics to "Tumala", in which a woman tries to seduce a boy by bragging about her livestock, are also hilarious). "Travuska", is slower, dark and spooky, lamenting the loss of childhood, while the instrumental "Pirsta" sounds more neo-Celtic than neo-Scandinavian with its whistle, accordion and guitar instrumentals (perhaps a nod to the band's Celtic-oriented label, Green Linnet). Varttina's previous release was "Seleniko", also from Green Linnet/Xenophile, while their next is "Kokko" for Nonesuch.

This is an excellent CD, completely different from the band's earlier recordings: a bit more 'peppy'. We loved the first few, and we love this CD just as much! The explosive opener 'Katariina' is a great dance song, though the lyrics are terribly hard to understand. When you do get the lyrics, you can never sing them fast enough to keep up with the spritely vocalists!

Värtinä is a wonderful group of singers, and although their music has evolved since this early album, I'd still recommend as something worth listening to and enjoying.