ENTROPIA

Finnish band Kumina.org opens their discography with a fine and eclectic effort with "Entropia". Recorded in 2008 and issued early 2009, the ten tracks on this effort wanders freely between jazzrock, fusion and symphonic space-tinged rock, with a few detours towards heavy prog landscapes.

Tight rhythms are a constant feature throughout, and the bass line tends to serve as the foundation for the proceedings rather often. The proceeding being wandering piano themes, various forms of guitar excursions as well as (mostly) vintage sounding keyboards and an organ that more often than not seems to be caught in a serious asthma attack. And for those with language concerns: It is an instrumental effort, so no worries.

The compositions are of good quality too, whether the band are exploring typical fusion territories, flirting with Deep Purple or approaching Floydian universes. A few moments of pure brilliance is found too, in the shape of Etydi and Tahdon Asiaa. A strong effort overall, recommended to those who'd like good quality, instrumental art rock with fusion tendencies.

Finnish Fusion group KUMINA.ORG recently returned from a long hiatus with a fine new album called #euphoria. [Sad to see that some troll has already given it a one-star rating here, I wonder did he even listen to it...] I start with the debut. At this time they still were a trio, guitarist Jukka Packalén playing also bass. Keyboardist "Ahmed Ahonen" - that's not his real name - has formerly played in prog bands KUHA. and DISCORDIA (both in the Archives).

First off, the worst thing of this album is surely its dull cover design. But the music is far from being dull! It's full of energy, musical joy, colour, melody and groove. Each track has a personality of its own while the entity stays completely coherent. The ninth, 48-second fast and crazy interlude is rather pointless, but maybe it serves as an additional twist. The very lively opening track (the title means 'Another Seven Days') begins as a playground for nearly Wakemanesque keyboard work before turning into hectic and slightly monotonous part that's more or less a drum solo. 'Etydi' has Bach-like melodies and reminds occasionally of JEAN JACQUES LOUSSIER's classical music jazzifications, but expands from that into colourful Fusion.

On each track all the used instruments are named in the order of appearance, giving thus extra pleasure for listeners approaching music from a technical point of view, such as keyboard enthusiasts. Perhaps the album at times gets too technically oriented and intelligent at the cost of emotion (that's one of my favourite words about music reception if you haven't noticed!), but there's always enough accessible melodicism too to maintain the feelings of happiness and good spirit. One might think of Canterbury prog / jazz (e.g. NATIONAL HEALTH and GILGAMESH), even though Kumina.org doesn't have a notable retro feel. They themselves have mentioned NIACIN and MEDESKI, MARTIN & WOOD as references.

This is very energetic, entertaining and happy Fusion of high technical level. Easily four stars, and if there just were some truly memorable moments of "wow...!" it would be five stars.