Antero Mentu- Näin unta Kaukaisesta Maasta (ECD2024215)

Antero is a multi-instrumentalist (primarily a guitarist), who has performed on a number of albums since 2005 but this is the first under this own name. ‘He is backed by: 

Jesper Anastasiadis- Contrabass, Amanda Blomqvist- Drums, Percussion, Markus Pajakkala- Flute, and Otto Eskelinen- Shakuhachi, Keyboards, Percussion. Antero plays Guitar, Electric Guitar, Keyboards, and Percussion.

The music is instrumental and the album divided into 6 pieces. The first part is quite a dark and driven by deep horns, bells and other percussion.  Part 2 kicks in with bass and drum beat and then a lovely guitar takes the lead. Next the flute comes in for a solo. Lovely music. Part 3 is more uptempo and driven by the guitar and percussion rhythm. Later the flute with some nice reverb on layers in nicely the hypnotic playing. Part 4 is a bit spacey with some nice piano and more simple themes explored on the instruments (guitar, piano, deep bass). IT slowly evolves. This is a super cool track. I just sort of disappeared into the music and vibe. Part 5 is very spaced out and dreamy...  The last part features some lovely guitar to start and then the bass, drums and other instruments float in as it builds.. A very relaxing and exploring musical experience. Enjoy.. The digipack has a booklet with some really interesting artwork. The rest of the info is all in Finnish so I have no idea what it is about… Lovely album…

The digipack has a booklet with some really interesting artwork. The rest of the info is all in Finnish so I have no idea what it is about… Lovely album…

https://anteromentu.bandcamp.com/album/n-in-unta-kaukaisesta-maasta 

Positive Wave- Metsälapsi (Humu Records HUMU041)

Positive Wave is an old band from Finland that has been around since 1998 but I have never heard them!  My friend Eetu sent me this CD. He did the very cool artwork for the CD. They are a 6 piece band (4 guest musicians also play on the album). Susan is the lead vocalist and has a very nice voice to compliment the music. She sings in Finnish so forget understanding it!! The album features 11 tracks ranging from the short 2 min track to the title track at over 9mins. The opening track, 1930, is a piano driven track, with a sort of traditional almost polka like feel at times but darker. Varpunen features some trumpet in this mid paced track with an almost ska feel to it. Lato is a very nice track, reminds me of Wigwam or something.. Love the middle section on this track. Great back and forth with the guitar and keys… Kupla is a bit jazzy…Ritariperhonen is a short track with just voice and acoustic guitar. Toukokuun Lokit starts slowly but then builds up with a sort of dark thread before a Hidira Spacefolk like riff kicks in and then off to the guitar solo. Love the bass line and groove on Maadisko!! Iiris starts slowly but then builds nicely. Great vocals on this track. Pelota is quite funky with some really nice horn work to compliment the piano and vibe. Dig it!! Japanin Laiva is a proggy one with lots of changes. The long title track ends this quite nice album with a more explorative nature and space start. 

I guess these guys are like prog-folk rock of sorts if I had to put them into a category but the CD is very eclectic and diverse.. I really enjoyed it a lot… Check them out…

http://positivewave.net

Lords of Form- False Light EP

Lords of Form is a group lead by Niall Hone (ex Hawkwind, Tribe of Cro). This is their most recent EP, which comes bundled with the first batch of the bands first vinyl called Our Shared Humanit out now on the UK label, Skidmark Multimedia. It is a compilation of tracks from the bands first 3 releases. 5 tracks, total.  Pity it is too expensive to buy in the EU otherwise I would love to own this one.. Here is the bands description of the LP:


Its Revolution Time – A hard-hitting opener that sets the tone with its commanding riffs and soaring vocals. A song for the times we face as a collective on this planet

Fhhu – Electronic’s build with memorable melodies that calm the listener.

Break My Gaze – Dynamic shifts and moments of emotional intensity, interspersed with improvisational sections.

23 Strangers – This track builds using synthesisers into a full blown space rock romp.

Everyone Knows Your Name – A high-energy track that is over in little over two minutes.

We Soothe, You Suffer –Over 20 minutes of improvised sonic mayhem. Drums pound and guitars sore, the cosmic nod is strong here!

Here is my take on the new EP, Krakern vs. XC, starts off with some strange sounds but then heads off into a more spacey territory with echoed guitar and vocals but a mean ass bass drive. It spaces out in the middle section with a nice melodic solo before getting a bit angry and taking another melodic turn.  Trippy song… Blood Dream is like movie soundtrack stuff and quite dark and creepy.  The Vestibule of Solitude starts quite spacey with a pad synth, some very deep sounds that shook the floor of my listening room (I have a subwoofer). Again, this could be some soundtrack music. I love it when the Tangerine Dream like synth arpeggio starts. Cool track. Stardust brings back the heavy riffs. A nice Huw Lloyd Langton like lead guitar line eventually takes the lead. It comes down as they jam it out a bit.  The current band is: Niall Hone, Jamie Gillet, George Cobbold, and Trim. 

https://lordsofform.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/lordsofform