Customer Reviews

Troka

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I first heard the Finnish group Troka on Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion and was so moved by the music that I tracked down the album the next day. I'd never heard anything quite like it: solid folk roots fiddle tunes laced with unexpected strains of blues, pop and even classical influences. (Louie Louie type chords on the harmonium - haunting Sibelius type harmonies underneath a simple mantra-like folk melody.) This collection of instrumentals ages well; I play it over and over and haven't gotten tired of it. Troka's exuberance, originality, and the thick, rich sound of their doubled fiddles, accordeon, and harmonium have literally made me laugh, cry, and dance like a wild woman. There's no telling what it will do to you--you'll have to try it to find out.

It's no wonder this group received a huge succes after their first appeareance at the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival in 1995 (?). This CD makes you laugh and dance for joy, and it's nice that the foreigners are finally able to listen to this CD (it was published in Finland earlier).

I heard a brief portion of this over the radio without the band name and I knew I had to find it. Eventually I tracked it down and all of it is excellent. Unusual, but pleasant harmonies. Fans of traditional dance music will love it.

I played the first track on this album (the courtship march) during the reception of my wedding and I've never stopped receiving so many great comments. The wonderful combination of the fiddle, harmonium, double bass and accordions make for an interesting but incredibly original listening experience. If this is what Finnish folk music sounds like, I'm moving to Finland tomorrow!

Sure, it uses Scandanavian stylings and attempts to apply them to Balkan and Irish settings. But if Balkan, Irish, and Scandavian music are what you want to hear, there are great bands in that genre already in existence. Why water down what's already there?