HAIKARA

Legendary Finnish Psych-Prog outfit with an intense brass instrumental background.Led by multi-instrumentalist Vesa Lattunen,HAIKARA were formed in 1971 in the town of Lahti along with drummer Markus Heikerro and bassist Timo Vuorinen.At the beginning the band was performing as a trio with a Hendrix-inspired style,but soon things whould change with the arrival of singer Vesa Lehtinen and flutist/saxophonist Harri Pystynen.The band ,now with a more complicated sound,signed with Discophon Records and their self-titled debut came out at the end of 1972 with lyrics dealing with metaphysics and personal issues.

''Koyhan poyan kerjays'' opens the album with a very pleasant atmosphere, like if THE BEATLES played supported by a brass section,a sound too far from what really follows.In ''Luoja kutsuu'',though the brass section is still present and strong,the atmosphere becomes darker and more psychedelic close to VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR,with a very slow tempo,flutes to the front and some strong guitar playing as well.In ''Yksi maa'' the transformation is fully completed.This is a superb track where obscure guitar chords meet with haunting flutes and pounding bass lines to result an awesome composition. ''Jalleen on meidan'' is the jazzier composition,where Lehtinen's crying voice is surrounded by smooth saxes,psych guitars and a nice middle/end section with jazzy references and excellent bass work by Vuorinen.The 12- min. ''Manala'' is the closest track in here and not by accident.The 3-min. calm vocal/flute intro is followed by the most complex part of ''Haikara'' with guitars and piano battling each other.Things have warmened up and then is when Pystynen enters delivering his most intricate performance on saxes,supported till the end by nice and dark vocal work,some weird organ sounds and Lattunen's fuzzy guitars.

''Haikara'' is a fine album for sure,though I don't think it can beat other Prog-Psych monsters like MARSUPILAMI or VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR.Yet it will reward every fan of this dark- sounding early 70's prog,who can't get enough of the style.