TABULA RASA

After all this is one of the best Finnish prog albums (I give it 3,5 stars - I wouldn't give five to ANY, I'm afraid). Others have compared it to Camel and Focus, and I agree, but I add that Focus never composed as good and exciting prog songs (it's the flute that makes the comparison). Not a masterpiece, though. Some of the 8 tracks are mediocre, but I like very much 'Gryf', 'Vuorellaistuja' and 'Prinssi'. You can sense some kind of spiritual level on lyrics and music as well, but that's not a fault. Jukka Leppilampi's tender voice suits OK to the softer side of Tabula Rasa but worse in more rocking numbers. The album as a whole is played very well but highlights are quite few. From a progressive point of view the best is 'Vuorellaistuja' (Sitter on a mountain) with a delicious faster instrumental section, where the flute really shines. 'Prinssi' is the most calm and melancholic little ending piece. _______ Tabula Rasa's second and last album is less interesting... (PS. Heikki Silvennoinen is nowadays better known from a TV-sketch series Kummeli, but he's a great guitarist, and also the main composer here.)