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23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Finnesses Emerge...., November 10, 1998
By A Customer
This review is from: Seleniko (Audio CD)
This marked the second commercial hit for this band of Finnish women singers - their first being Oi Dai. The songs here are all in Finnish, which will be meaningless to most listeners. What will grab you is the freshness, the unique and timeless rhythms, and unusual (to our ear) harmonies. With some resemblence to the power and structure of Bulgarian choruses, these 4 young Finnish women use the open throat technique to almost yell their lyrics. The tunes are mostly traditional, coming from old Ingrian (around St. Petersburg), Karelian (eastern Finland), Mari and Setu (central Russia - along the Volga River) folk tunes. Women used many of these tunes to get through their work day, to complain about abusive or lazy husbands, or lament having to leave their father's farms for strange lands. Instrumentals here are very powerful, with strong flavors of eastern Finland. Listen carefully, and you will hear the Kantele, a sort of Finnish lap harp. You will hear very few of the familiar 4-4 times on this, or any other Varttina, recording, proving that these Finns march to a different drummer altogether. This is no ordinary band.. they sport several Sibelius Academy graduates - the Finnish equivalent of Juilliard. The fiddle player has played in several Finnish groups, and also does some mean Celtic fiddling.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Easily Värttinä's best album, October 30, 2001
This review is from: Seleniko (Audio CD)
Before Värttinä utilised pop hooks in "Kokko", the group was all about finding new arrangements for Finno-Ugric folk music. Utilizing traditional instruments (notably the kantele, a traditional Finnish lap harp/zither), Värttinä draws inspiration in Finno-Ugric folk music, and stays fairly close to the sources. The title track features some of the most jaw dropping harmonies I've ever heard in my life, and I still can't stop listening to it. The third track, "Kylä Vuotti Uutta Kuuta" became an international hit of sorts, and features a "wall of sound" approach to Finnish folk. Imagine Ronnie Spector behind the sound board on this track, complete with swelling organ and kantele plucking, and you get an idea. All the songs on this album are just outstanding. Värttinä shifted stylistic gears after Seleniko, which is a shame since the pop elements to their sound, while nice, are nowhere nearly as satisfying as their older, more acoustic albums. And Seleniko, without doubt, is the best of those older albums. I can't recommend this album enough to anyone with even half an interest in folk music. People unaccustomed to word music might be put off by the fact that all the songs are in Finnish, but with a sound this good, it shouldn't be an obstacle for any but the most determined Anglophones. Try it, and I guarantee that you'll love it.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Voices of the angels..., September 2, 2001
This review is from: Seleniko (Audio CD)
When I first heard this album -- almost ten years ago, now -- I was totally blown away. If you've ever wondered what angels sound like when they sing, this will surely be the closest you're going to get this side of Heaven. Sure, the lyrics are in Finnish, but that makes little difference. The music and spirit transcends all and, after listening, you'll be left in a state of bliss. Of special note are tracks 3 (Kyla Vuotti Uutaa Kuuta) and 8 (Leppiainen). If you're curious about Varttina, this album is a terrific entry point, smack dab in the middle of their musical progression from traditional Finnish folk group to world music powerhouse. Highly recommended. By the way, this album became my entry point into a vast treasure trove of might be best called "progressive scandinavian folk" music. Be sure to check out other Varttina albums, as well as the work of Hedningarna and Garmarna from Sweden, Sorten Muld from Denmark, and Sirmakka from Finland.
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