ARABESQUE

Finnish band QUMMA CONNECTION is based around composer, musician, photographer and graphic artist Qumma, and the foundations for this part of his musical expressions was laid following a jam session he had with drummer Pasi Rupponen in 2005, the ideas improvised there soon demanding to be given a creative outlet. This has resulted in two albums so far: "Arabesque" from 2008 the first of these.

"Arabesque" is an eclectic creation that provides plenty of musical joy for the sophisticated art rock fan. Although the initial efforts may not be the most daring nor inspiring, this is a CD that steadily grows better and more interesting as it unfolds, and it does explore stylistic territories featuring details not too many others have tried investigating, the role of the cello and Warr guitar most notable in that respect, instrumentally and compositionally. Art rock fans who fancy a slice of music made with finesse and a sense of adventure above the ordinary might just want to take this on, and if you like King Crimson there's a good chance that you'll find the material at hand to be interesting.

Qumma is the pseundonym of Finnish guitarist Rami Talja, member of Contemporary Dead Finnish Music Ensemble.He established Qumma Connection in Helsinki around 2005, after jamming with his Warr guitar along with drummer Pasi Rupponen.The next in line to join the band were keyboardist Pate Kivinen and cellist Tuukka Helminen of Alamaailman Vasarat fame.In 2008 an all instrumental self-produced album was released by the band under the title ''Arabesque''.

The sound of Qumma Connection is quite personal with Talja measuring the possibilities of Warr guitar, eventually coming up with series of frenetic grooves, spacey textures and melodic lines.Actually the first pair of tracks seems to be also the more melodic compositions of the album, combining the MARILLION-esque atmospheric guitar soundscapes with a rhythmic guitar power, while the good use of cello and keyboards make these pieces trully unique.From this point on Qumma Connection resemble more to a Finnish KING CRIMSON with TREY GUNN on guitars.Lots of twists, noisy grooves and impressive attacking riffs blend with light pianos, smooth atmospheric organ, melancholic cello and discreet synths in more experimental forms of Prog music, though the emphatic breaks and some more easy-going themes are also added for good measure.Towards the end of the album we meet also the longest tracks of ''Arabesque'', which do not sound as tight as the previous tracks.''Panic Attack'' suffers from a very long introduction full of sampled sounds and effects (actually it lasts more than half of the track's length) before the bursting Warr guitar of Talja leads into an aggressive and fully energetic groove with cello supporting.''Jamais Vu'' is more of the same, again a long intro is followed by dynamic guitar rhythmic parts, but on this track the interesting melodies, the really great piano and the more grandiose textures reappear to offer the listener another nice listening experience.The closing ''Petite Mort'' is a huge surprise.A spacey, almost Soundtrack-like soundscape full of elegant female vocals, dreamy flute and depressive strings will just conclude that Qumma Connection is not just another band in the mess.

''Arabesque'' is a really great and personal debut.A couple of weaker cuts and the extreme use of similar guitar grooves may hurt the album a bit, but be sure to face a unique-sounding group in this album, which is also 100% Prog.Strongly recommended...3.5 stars.