FINNFOREST

Finland is not a renowned country for progressive rock not speaking of jazz-rock fusion. Finnforest and Wigwam could be to prime examples of this exception. I acquired the debut album by Finnforest a many years ago and had somewhat mixed opinion about it.

On one hand, music is all instrumental fusion which by its definition should be in my favourite territory. I love almost all 70's fusion albums. The band features a couple of memorable moments. The band stays primarily in the slow and medium waters of fusion. Each time they try to go faster, they stop too soon so the typical fusion speed isn't manifested convincingly. The second criticism - I'm missing longer compositions to hear their looser jamming abilities or more developed compositions.

So all in all I consider this an average fusion album a bit shy of the band's potential.