AJAN PEILI

KOSMOS is a Finnish psych-folk group with a female vocalist who sings in Finnish. Their rather peaceful and mellow sound is acoustically oriented and features Mellotron. The debut album Tarinoita Voimasta (= 'Stories of the Force', 2005) was followed, at first in a steady two-year pace, by Polku (= 'The Path') and Vieraan Taivaan Alla (= 'Under an Unknown Sky'). The fourth album Salattu Maailma (= 'Secret World') came out in 2013, and a couple of months ago this fifth album was released. Ajan Peili means 'The Mirror of Time'. I translated the album titles in order to give an idea of the esoteric nature of the band's music and lyrics. The CD contains the lyrics and also their English translations.

If you're familiar with the earlier output, Ajan Peili offers no big surprises. In fact, it's so similar to their other albums that the basic constancy of the style is starting to affect negatively to the listener. Of course, sometimes a band or artist sticks firmly to the chosen style and makes it work better and better with each release. However, I'm afraid I don't have any plain reason to say Ajan Peili would be an improvement of its precursor. On the other hand, if you have heard some of the music of this band and want to get an album, you might just as well purchase this one and be satisfied.

The opening title track is a calm and slow-paced song, and a very typical Kosmos song at that. The delicate arrangement is beautiful and nuanced: at times the acoustic guitar is on the focus, at one moment Päivi Kylmänen's small-scale alto(?) voice is multi-layered, and the sound is finished with hazy Mellotron washes and violin. 'Eilinen' is a brighter, lighter little folk-rock song, not so far from what FAIRPORT CONVENTION did in 1969. The hazier approach dominates the rest of the album. I'd mention early 70's British acts such as FOREST, TRADER HORNE, MARY CELESTE and TREES as stylistic references.

Here and there the arrangements offer nice details. 'Aina lähellä' features xylophone. And as before, Kosmos incorporates slight Eastern flavour (in percussion, for example) to underline the psychedelic essence. Many of the songs themselves are rather mediocre, when speaking of song-writing instead of arrangement. After the fine opener, it's the sixth track 'Salainen oppi' (dedicated to madame Blavatsky) that impresses me as a whole. The piano backing, already atmospheric in itself, is accompanied by Mellotron and soprano saxophone in a charming way. The two remaining tracks feature the reading by Juha Kulmala. His monotonous voice was heard in the preceding album too, and now this extra ingredient tastes a bit like old wine to me. The 12-minute 'Minä olen' (= I Am) is nevertheless a highlight, a perfect example of the band's ability to weave esoteric atmospheres and progressive rock flavour. Wish they made more tracks like this, with wider dynamics. All in all, this is a representative album from Kosmos.

One of my favorite old-time Prog Folk bands is back with another great album of spacious, thoughtful music--this one a little more diversified in sounds, styles, and instrumentation than their last album, 2013's wonderful Salattu Maailma.

1. "Ajan peili" (5:55) arpeggi from acoustic guitars are soon joined by bass and Mellotron to create a lush, gorgeous sound reminiscent of Salattu Maailma's title song. Singer Päivi Kylmänen enters toward the end of the first minute to spacious soundscape. She is joined by other vocal tracks (all her?) for the choruses. Mellotron (and flute) only appears when there is no singing. (8.5/10)

2. "Eilinen" (2:45) electrified acoustic guitar accompaniment and drums for Päivi's singing. (4.25/5)

3. "Lapsen uni" (5:20) (/10)

4. "Aina lähellä" (3:11) xylophone with Päivi's gorgeously layered multi-voiced singing. (8.75/10)

5. "Kohti taivasta" (3:58) more upbeat acoustic guitar driven song with hand percussion to support Päivi's Jim Morrison-like singing. (8.5/10)

6. "Salainen oppi" (4:20) piano and voice open this one for the first verse. It sounds like a recital piece for some Russian cabaret. Soprano sax, flute, Mellotron, and some other chorded organ-like keyboard join in between the singing verses. Nice instrumental passage in the third minute with some nice saxophone interplay with the final verse. (8.5/10)

7. "Jatkuvuus" (5:00) heavier with brooding Mellotron and other synths. Great soundscape! Top three for me. (9/10)

8. "Minä olen" (11:57) opens with simple Mellotron and finger-picked acoustic guitar before wind noises take over, transitioning us to the dark turn in mood as a slowly emerging ominous electric guitar riff repeated over as 'tron and drums join. Päivi enters in the quiet of the first and second minutes with a beautiful melody and then again at the end of the heavier third minute. The first chorus at 3:40 is surprising for its spaciousness, but then the instrumental jam that follows has some cool electric guitar lead work. Not your most complex or intricately performed prog epic but effective. A quiet section starting at 5:50 has bass, slowly picked acoustic guitar, and Mellotron strings while a male voice speaks. Nice. Early King Crimsonian. Ending at 7:47, the heavier motif returns, building to a Clapton-esque rock'n'roll frenzy after Päivi finishes singing. (21.75/25)

Total time 42:22

B/four stars; an excellent addition to any Prog Folk lover's music collection.