BRUTOPIANISTI

UTOPIANISTI is quite the unique act and one with which i have become quite the fan in relatively short time based solely on 2016's stellar performances on "The Third Frontier" which found a new lease on the whole jazz-rock fusion meets brutal avant-prog thing. This project is led by the multi-instrumentalist Markus Pajakkala who specializes in saxophones, flutes, clarinets, keys and percussion. While on previous albums which consisted of whole ensembles of musicians churning out quirky rhythms and Rock In Opposition melodies, the newest release BRUTOPIANISTI seems to be more of a solo project by Pajakkala with only a handful of extras on board helping out in expanding the vocal range along with a few synth parts. Instrumentally speaking this is basically the Markus Pajakkla show as he plays drums, bass clarinet, soprano sax, xylophone and various flutes.

If you are expecting another slice of that ridiculously, superbly orchestrated avant-prog dancing in the jazz-fusion arenas of prog heaven then look elsewhere because this album goes in a completely different direction and displays a modern day trend of a quickening that is increasingly blurring the lines between metal, jazz, prog rock and ethnic world music. This music slaps you on the face from the very first frenetic drumbeats of "Gróyul Ghóul Ghò" which combine a frenetic grindcore metal groove with Tuvan style throat singing as well as death metal growls! Despite the extreme metal feel to the whole thing, there are no signs of either guitar or bass guitar in the mix as the bass clarinet and other wind instruments pick up the rhythmic aspects of the music while screams, growls and other strange vocal utterings decorate the soundscape. This short little release barely clocks in over the half hour mark but packs a punch in its ruthless intensity and power punk attack.

While all this craziness unfolds, it sounds like the sax, flutes and bass clarinet borrow a lot from world influences ranging from Klezmer to traditional Chinese music as well as the aforementioned throat singing performed like a pro by Sampo Salonen. While the drums sound totally programed, it actually adds another layer of strangeness to the overall sound as it makes me think of such electronic wizards as Amon Tobin or other IDM (intelligent dance music) artists like Squarepusher (showing off his indietronica talents from his other project Poutatorvi). Between the metal intensity of the vocals, the electronic relentlessness along side with brutal avant-prog time signatures laced with swinging jazzy melodies and ethnic undertones with psychedelic twists and turns, we're left with a very demanding listen indeed but not one that is too alienating even upon first listen. There is a firm sense of balance on BRUTOPIANISTI as not to overwhelm the listener with too much at any given moment.

BRUTOPIANISTI is certainly a curve ball thrown at us in the discography of UTOPIANISTI, not only in terms of how quickly it was released after the previous album as prog oriented artists of this magnitude often take many years to polish new albums into perfection, but also in how utterly different it is from their previous offerings. I would imagine that for those who don't take a liking to this one because it strays too far too fast from the previous efforts will probably be assured that this will not likely be the style that Pajakkala intends to continue ad infinitum but rather a playful little side project that needed to be released. Be assured for as different as this album is, it is chock full of brilliant ideas mixing and melding their way into pure brilliance. Tracks such as "Hóllò" deliver a percussive beat that sounds like a warehouse of fireworks that caught on fire with lysergic ambience mellowing it out and "Zhími Bàgi Dá" with death metal growls and bass clarinet quickly morphing into an elves' LSD party on Neptune sounds as otherworldly as the fictional language titles. This is truly bizarre stuff that will either reel you in instantly like an unfortunate bass on Lake Michigan or repel you like a mosquito from freshly deeted body in the malaria zone. Either way you won't think that you've heard this before even from UTOPIANISTI itself but regardless it will leave some sort of impression. For me, i'm digging this one a lot!

Though I've been listening to this one and playing pieces from it on my radio show since its arrival on the music scene January first, 2017, I have had a heck of a time trying to 'rate' this unEarthly experiment into uncharted musical territory. The music contained herein is a violent, Mr. Hyde-like version of Finnish genius Markus Pajakkala's UTOPIANISTI though this is mostly him playing various woodwinds and tuned percussives.

Because I have trouble assigning ratings to songs of lengths less than two minutes, only six of the thirteen songs here would have earned ratings. Because I have so little brainpower to be able to compare and then justifiably categorize the music, I have decided to refrain from ratings altogether.

I think the album genius but it definitely pushes the limits and tolerances of all music listeners.

1. "Gróyul Ghóul Ghò!" (01:37) 2. "Gcéme Zéle Dté" (01:46)

3. "Blászh" (02:57) all kinds of animalistic throat-vocal noises parade within the weave of this odd song. At the 30 second mark, the song actually shifts into a milder, more spacious form with the Muppet "Animal"-like growl-speak vocalizations continuing throughout. Then, at the two minute mark there is another shift with a wind instrument taking over. Interesting.

4. "Bhómega" (03:56) opens on a very 'world music' stage--sounding like something out of a JON HASSELL performance at one of the WOMAD festivals. But then, at the 1:20 mark, the drums and other instruments (bass clarinet and synthesized flute or sax on the lead) enter and things settle into a new pattern that feels all right with the rest of the world. Nice soloing over some steady rhythm patterns.

5. "Gabósh Dí Magá" (01:41) growls and reverb effects used on this one make it so cool! The woodwinds and drums weave is perfect support for the Kong Island--fitting song.

6. "Zigévomídá Zwógh" (01:13) the vocals on this song are the highlight as multiple styles are represented-- sometimes even together! Drums are fairly tolerable on this one.

7. "Hóllò" (04:04) opens with a distant repetitive horn loop while the percussionist seems to be testing out the fullness of his drum kit. After over 75 seonds of this, and the listener wondering if the drummer will ever find his way, a long sustained low synth note enters prompting the drummer to seem to at least get "on the run." The synth begins to develop and move around while the drums continue to explore. The final 30 seconds is all synth and distorted vocalizations. I'm not sure how to even assign a rating to this one! It's unEarthly!

8. "Wóókh Ztadás" (01:14) 9. "Zwaáakh" (01:26) 10. "Zhími Bàgi Dá" (01:10)

11. "Bóm Zói" (02:42) opens with drums and woodwind speeding along at breakneck speed. At the 25 seocond mark the bass clarinet slows down and establishes a rhythmic, looping riff over which drums and synth wreak havoc.

12. "Brümigá Hügu" (03:25) more wild drumming and synth effects noises with more sedate, almost melodic bass clarinet. At 1:20 the clarinet and synths become more jaded, more industrial-sounding while the percussionist continues as before. The final thirty seconds switches to metallic percussives and proto-human vocal growls.

13. "Glüf Zwagó Zigévomídá!" (03:45) xylophone, throat singing, and oddly treated/processed flute open this song. At the end of the second minute, drums, looping bass clarinet, and synth enter to support a upper octave treated flute solo. At 3:10 we enter the final section with bass clarinet, frenetic drumming, and crazed "Animal" vocals.

Total Time 30:56

I have to admit that the Muppets' "Animal"-like tribalistic beating of the drums along with their very plastic sounds leave me feeling a little raw and jaded, but the music is so interesting and, well, for lack of a better word, raw, that I can usually get past it. I wonder if Markus ever heard the Spanish band ZA!'s 2015 album Loloismo before making this album. There are some similarities.

Brutopianisti is genius and masterful but it is neither essential nor even excellent. This is not the kind of music you want to play for your mother or to impress your girlfriend--especially if you don't want to trigger their nervous breakdowns. It may truly be necessary to call this one "for collectors/fans only" though it pains me to do so, it is truly difficult to call it "good" because I'm not sure what it is good for. I like it, I'm fascinated by it, I smile at it, I have given it dozens of listens in order to try to understand and appreciate its genius, but in the end, I'm not sure how to recommend it to another. "Try it if you want to test what extremes you're able to tolerate" or "try it and see how long you can take it before you have to jump out a window." Good luck! If this is truly your cup of tea, then you are a weirder man than me.