HAIKARA

I agree with Eetu Pellonpaa and Sean Trane that this is the best classic, seventies Finnish album I have ever heard. Other than the opening track, this record is dark,disturbing and moody just the way i like it. There is even Bassoon played on it for Pete's sake, and it's not that far off from UNIVERS ZERO at one point. These guys all play magnificently, I could go through each instrument and praise them all very highly, and the songs are so cleverly arranged that it's impossible to find anything negative to say at all.

"Koyhan Pojan Kerjays" is the shortest song on here and it's completely different from the rest. It really sounds like an uptempo,traditional folk song. The lyrics throughout this album are in Finnish.This song is a real toe tapper with blasting sax and clapping with the bass and drums keeping the rhythm. It sounds like they're having a lot of fun. Don't take this song too seriously, I don't think it's intended to be. "Louja Kutsuu" really reminds me of SINKADUS with the bassoon and solemn flute. I like it. Melancholic vocals and organ join in, and yes this does sound like funeral music. The tempo picks up as bass, drums and sax support the more energetic vocals. This is fantastic ! Back to the earlier dark mood of bassoon and flute. Vocals and organ again follow. The tempo picks up again 6 minutes in just like before with sax, bass and vocals dominating. The ending is chaotic. Just an awesome tune man. "Yksi Maa-Yksi Kansa" opens with sax as an eastern sounding,gentle guitar comes in with bass. Bassoon comes in followed by drums and vocals as the song comes alive. Back to opening melody before the song really picks up strength with sax and a full sound. Psychedelic guitar comes in as drums pound 3 minutes in. Nice. This is a hypnotizing section until sax arrives followed by flute. Some raw sounding guitar 6 minutes in as tempo really speeds up with sax. A calm arrives a minute later as we get the original melody of gentle guitar that is joined by the bassoon, then vocals, followed by sax and drums as sound rises again. I like the grinding guitar 8 1/2 minutes in as drums pound and flute and sax take turns playing over top.

"Jalleen On Meidan" opens with bass as sax and guitar join in. Great sound. Vocals after a minute. Love the sax and vocals. This just goes on and on thankfully. Nice bass 5 minutes in as the guitar plays an amazing solo with sax joining in. It calms right down 8 1/2 minutes in as we get some atmosphere. It starts to build, and we get some incredible bass and sax to end it. "Manala" opens with gentle guitar as soft flute melodies join in. Reserved vocals and bass also arrive. This continues until before 3 1/2 minutes in when a bombastic,dark and creepy climate arrives. Ripping guitar turns angular as sax, bassoon,piano and drums fill the heavy air. This is spooky and ominous to say the least. Great section. The tempo picks up as we get some demented vocals. Check out the sax ! Organ arrives 8 1/2 minutes in. Vocal melodies and then vocals. The drums are so heavy.

I would suggest you read Eetu Pellonpaa's review to see what the story line is about on this record. To think this was 1972, I am just so overjoyed at what they created.