POP-LIISA 8

In the years 1972-74 the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) organized a radio-broadcast series of rock and jazz gigs in Liisankatu studio, Helsinki. The shows had an important role in the media landscape because the performing groups usually didn't have any other opportunities to reach larger audiences. For about three years Svart Records have been releasing these live performances on their Pop-Liisa and Jazz-Liisa series. Especially from the progressive rock's point of view the series is of high interest. Some of the short-lived line-ups -- often featuring notable musicians -- didn't even release albums at the time, while the sole studio albums of some other bands such as NIMBUS have become prog collector's items. These Pop/Jazz-Liisa vinyl releases have been paired on CD's, since the lengths are averagely around 38 minutes. Nimbus' gig from January 1974 shares the disc with KALEVALA, July 1973.

Psych/prog band Nimbus caught the attention of Love Records in 1972 and recorded three songs next year. However, the purposed single 'Ode to Eagle' / 'Heretic Fool' was never released. The only album Obus (1974) was sung in Finnish. It was released by the minor and far less prog-oriented Satsanga Records. It was around the time of making the album that Nimbus performed in the Liisankatu studio. The 36-minute set features six songs, the aforementioned songs in English, two album tracks ('Pessimistinen dialogi' and 'Myrskyjen välillä'), excellent instrumental 'Aamumaa' -- which strangely was left out of the brief original album, but is included on the CD release of Obus -- plus GREENSLADE-cover 'Feathered Friends'. All of their own material was composed by guitarist Harri Suilamo.

'Ode to Eagle' is a fine dark-toned song, not very complex one but distinctively belonging to the prog genre. 'Heretic Fool' has a faster tempo and a spicy electric guitar solo. The album tracks are good examples of the band's prog style that can be compared to the early WIGWAM, perhaps a bit also to TABULA RASA. Pekka Rautio's organ adds a nice warmth to the guitar-centred sound, and Pasi Saarelma's vocals function perfectly with the music. 'Feathered Friends' (from the Greenslade debut, 1973) is an interesting choice for a cover performance and they deal with it quite well. Luckily Saarelma doesn't try to imitate Dave Lawson's pretentious singing!

The sonic quality is good. The audience remains silent during the performances but applauds politely after each song. This is an excellent addition to a collection of vintage Finnish prog, especially as a CD when one gets also the Finnish-language gig of Kalevala. Arttu Leppänen's detailed liner notes are in English.