Aitara

Varttina

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 10, 1995)
• Original Release Date: February 16, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Xenophile Records
• ASIN: B000001L56
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #217,709 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #30 in

  Music > Indie Music > World Music > Europe > Scandinavia

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Sari Kaasinen grew up in Finland's Karelia region, near the Russian border, and her mother taught her the old peasant songs. In 1983, Sari formed a women's choir called Värttinä (Finnish, "spindle") to sing those tunes, but, after she attended the prestigious Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, she stripped the group down to a female vocal quartet backed by an instrumental folk rock quintet. By speeding up the tempos and giving the lyrics a sassy feminist spin, Värttinä made the ancient songs sound as modern as anything by the Roches or the Blake Babies. Värttinä has made another major leap forward with Aitara, their first album dominated by original compositions, mostly by Kaasinen. Four numbers are old songs with new music and lyrics; the other eight were written from scratch, but all dozen draw on the themes and rhythms of rural Finland. Instead of the stoic fatalism that marks most folk music, however, these songs burst with the energy and high expectations of women who accept no limitations. The English translations in the CD booklet reveal that the songs describe the bawdy young "Katariina" striding through town with her belt missing and women dancing and laughing around the "Yötulet (The Night Fire)." Such insistently catchy numbers as "Tumala" and "Mie Tahon Tanssia" are aggressive proposals to young men. Even without the translations, though, there is such a spark in the singing and in the fiddle-accordion-sax-bass-&-drums accompaniment that the lusty confidence behind the songs is unmistakable. --Geoffrey Himes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Aitara peak of heavenly Värttinä music, June 5, 2001

By A Customer

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent CD with numerous exotic sounds and vocal harmonies, November 15, 1998

By	Dennis Cosmatos (Rydal, PA USA) - See all my reviews

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!

5.0 out of 5 stars Lively and stunning!, December 30, 2003

By	Brianna Neal (USA) - See all my reviews

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.