Iki

Varttina

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 11, 2003)
• Original Release Date: March 11, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: East Side Digital
• ASIN: B00008IAJQ
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #120,803 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Värttinä's previous album, Ilmatar, was runic, dark, and chillingly evocative, a masterpiece of latter-day trad-pop. Ever since, fans of this female-led Karelian ensemble have been eagerly anticipating their next effort while half-expecting a let-down. Well, the wait is over, and the follow-up, created in the wake of still more personnel changes, is surprisingly un-fussy, almost bar-band folkloric. The legendary women vocalists are now a trio instead of a quartet. They are heard solo and combined, backed by acoustic accordion, fiddles, flutes, guitars, drums, and kantele (Finland's zither-like national instrument,) the whole anchored by a simple, prominent bass. Their trademark speed-singing is sparingly deployed and the open-faced, limpid harmonies seldom become unsettling or shrill. The singers come across like a chance gathering of sharp-tongued, kindly village gossips on a sunny bench. They are nowhere near so occult or fate-driven as we've been led to believe--not in broad daylight, anyway. -- Christina Roden

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Varttina mellows out, December 30, 2003

By	Brianna Neal (USA) - See all my reviews

Known for their barrages of strident, dissonant, rapid-fire folk lyrics set against a modern backup band, the Finnish group Varttinna takes a more laid back approach in this album, giving yet another dimension to their ever-developing style. The tone of "Iki", which translates as "the primal, eternal breath", is less frenetic than their early, folksy releases and less dark than their more recent CDs "Vihma" and "Ilmatar". Replacing these elements are approaches more evocative of modern electro-accoustic American folk music and even light jazz. The trio of female vocalists on "Iki" consists of staple Mari Kaasinen, veteran Susan Aho and newcomer Johanna Virtanen. Most of the arrangements are by multi-instrumentalists Anton Varilo and Janne Lappalainen, while the majority of the texts were penned by Kaasinen. "Iki" is actually a good overview of Varttina's different faces. Numbers like "Nahkaruoska", "Potran Korean" and "Vihi" are exemplary of their rowdy, folksy side, while "Tuulen Tunto" and "Sepan Poika" are gently and progressively contemporary. Other tracks, like "Maahinen Neito" and "Syllinen Syli, parts 1 and 2", show more of a world music influence, incorporating rhythms, harmonies and vocal dissonances reminiscent of Balkan and Middle Eastern traditions. For a look at the group's darker side, try the albums "Vihma" and "Ilmatar". If you like the gentler, jazzier numbers on "Iki", you may also enjoy the creative arrangements on the albums "Moon Run" and "Remembered Ways" by the American group Trapezoid.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT WORK, December 9, 2003

By A Customer

Since the first track to the last I saw (and off course listen)a perfect conclusion of these 20 years of work.They "pick up" all technics which have used since "Seleniko" to "Ilimatar", musical and vocal.In this album, you'll find a better sound,an excellent vocal work from every musician and singer.There's a perfect balance between kantele,bouzouki,cava,low whistle, percussion, accordion and voices...They use rhytmns from other albums like "Kokko",and "Ilimatar", but it doesn't sound like a "recycling work", sounds new, and preserves the finnish folk essence.Personally, I think that this album is absolutely brilliant,"wrapper", and strong.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best album yet by Varttina, April 18, 2003

By A Customer

I was a little hesitant to buy this latest Varttina album since learning that there are now only 3 of the original vocalists remaining in the group. After listening to the sound bytes, though, I figured this was probably a good album. Boy, is that an understatement! I can't remember when I have been so impressed with an album. I thought it would be impossible to top Seleniko, Vihma or Ilmatar, but I think Iki might just be the best one yet. This is one of those CD's that EVERY SINGLE track is 5+ stars! (except perhaps the one instrumental, that I was less enthusiastic about, but still not a bad piece). Buy it - you won't be disappointed.