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KTU

Eclectic Prog • Multi-National


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KTU biography
KTU (pronounced K2) was formed of the two duos, Kluster, comprising of Kimmo Pohjonen and Samuli Kosminen and of TU, which are Trey Gunn and Pat Mastelotto.
The initial contact came in March 1999 in a Project Three show where Robert Fripp, Gunn and Mastelotto had Pohjonen play with them. However, the idea had to develop a few more years until it materialized in the form of KTU which had its first show in 2004 in Helsinki, Finland followed by shows in Japan; these shows appear on the album Eight Armed Monkey which was released in 2005.
Their music is quite hard to describe. A nice description was written by a reviewer of one of their live shows, saying that KTU "created on stage the spooky, infernal ambient usual in Pohjonen and departed from there to create a convulsive, ghostly music, capable of releasing gargula from its concrete skin - and them, scaring, danced slow waltzes, improvised gothic jazz, and, in the encore, rehearsed the available funk, muscular and overwhelming." (Mário Lopes, Diário de Notícias).

==Assaf Vestin (avestin)==

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KTU discography


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KTU top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.53 | 37 ratings
Quiver
2009

KTU Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.23 | 19 ratings
8 Armed Monkey
2005

KTU Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

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KTU Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

KTU Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Quiver by KTU album cover Studio Album, 2009
3.53 | 37 ratings

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Quiver
KTU Eclectic Prog

Review by Matti
Prog Reviewer

3 stars KTU is a project of the Finnish accordion artiste extraordinaire KIMMO POHJONEN and Pat Mastoletto & Trey Gunn, best known from KING CRIMSON. Originally there was a fourth member, samplemaker Samuli Kosminen, who still contributes with "additional beats and noises, Kosminization" on this second album. KTU's debut 8 Armed Monkey (2005) consists of five 7-10 -minute tracks and I find it terribly boring. (Some reviewers however prefer it over this one, and I can understand that opinion too.) In my opinion it definitely helps - in the case of KTU, not generally! - to have the music in shorter and thus tighter units, eleven in total. There's much more life on this album, and the trio has clearly grown tighter in composing collectively. Five tracks are credited to them all.

This rather experimental instrumental music is hard to place into specific genres or categories. It has elements of Ambient, World Music and Avant-Garde, without forgetting [progressive] rock. One can simply call it modern progressive music. As I'm now listening to Quiver for the second or third time, I'm very positively surprised how well it avoids the traps of the debut. This album never gets stuck for too long in one idea; it breathes and lives and lets the listener jump in with open arms. (The monkey's 8 arms then weren't so friendly, ha ha...)

Trey Gunn's 'Fragile Sun' is a slow, ambient opener, followed by an effective group composition. Pohjonen's accordion easily stands for a keyboard arsenal and Gunn's Warr guitar also is a versatile instrument. Mastoletto shows his capability as a rock drummer too on this many-sided, balanced album.

Just few more track pickings. 'Purga' is slowly growing, otherworldly soundscape. Distant, wordless chant gives it a tribal-like atmosphere, and the track impressively proceeds into rockier realms. 'Wasabi Fields' by Pohjonen has fascinating sounds - including also rather ordinary accordion playing - in a coherent song-like composition. 'Jacaranda' has the rhythmic edginess familiar from contemporary King Crimson. The closing number 'Snow Reader' (also by Pohjonen) is Ambient-oriented serene piece.

To those more deeply interested in these musicians (I confess I've never got very interested in past-seventies King Crimson, nor I believe Kimmo Pohjonen will become a favourite artist) this brave, unique album is surely worth checking out. To some degree it may be a grower to me as well.

 Quiver by KTU album cover Studio Album, 2009
3.53 | 37 ratings

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Quiver
KTU Eclectic Prog

Review by snobb
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars After such a powerful debut, this album for me was a bit disappointment. I waited for KTU second album some years, and as result received this work - still good , but far from what could be expected.

I believe not everyone know, that KTU is a Finnish-US project, based on collaboration between US KC-related project TU ( Trey Gunn-Pat Mastelotto) and Finnish excellent accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen ( in KTU debut album Finnish part was represented by Kluster duet: accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen + Samuli Kosminen (samples, effects). There, on KTU second work, Samuli Kosminen presented as guest musician only.

So -what is wrong with this album? If their debut was experimental, often free-form ambient soundscapes, gothic jazz and Nordic folk, mixed all in one explosive heavy progressive brew, Quiver is much more framed one. Very structurised, cleaned from all free form experimentation, in fact chamber heavy work for Warr guitar, rhythm (mostly electronic) devices and quite stereotypic accordion sound. Almost all compositions are of the same face, quite formal and even boring after half album was passed. Possibly, the idea was to produce much more accessible sound, but the result is a bit academic and even boring.

If strong point of their debut was this unlimited experimentation and even jazzy improvisation, there on their second album you will hardly find even traces of that spirit. Even exotic accordion in almost all places sounds as just regular electric keyboards.

Still not a bad album, but far from their great debut. Let's wait (with hope) what will be their next step

 8 Armed Monkey by KTU album cover Live, 2005
3.23 | 19 ratings

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8 Armed Monkey
KTU Eclectic Prog

Review by snobb
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars KTU is excellent multinational experimental prog project but only very few fans know about them! And it's a shame!

Basic member of this band is Finnish accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen. Yes - accordionist! For wide public he is know possibly as one-time collaborator of KC/Fripp's Project Three (in live performance). But there in Northern Europe he is almost cult figure, member and collaborator of many interesting projects for years. But most important - excellent solo musician.

Speaking about accordionist, many imagine Al Di Meola's New Sinfonia ( with very nice Argentinean/Italian accordion music), or Central European folklore. No way - Kimmo Pohjonen is metal accordionist, musical tornado, playing electric gothic folk -jazz-metal, heavily based on Nordic folklore. And dancing tribal dances on scene, when playing. Unhappily, I missed two times KTU concerts during last some years (happened not too far from my hometown, in Tallinn and Helsinki). But I saw Kimmo Pohjonen playing solo in Vilnius (at annual International Accordion Festival), you can't imagine that feeling - heavy electric accordion music, played by Nordic Shaman!

KTU was founded as "double duo", almost in KC tradition. Half of KTU is TU - Trey Gunn and Pat Mastelotto duo. Another half - Finnish duo of accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen and Samuli Kosminen (samples, electronic devices).

This, debut (live) album was recorded during their first tour in 2005. To be honest, you will hardly find there too much KC-related music. It is mostly experimental gothic jazz, Nordic folk, experimental rock, plenty of samples and electronic effects mixing in one tribal, dark, atmospheric ,with industrial soundscapes, sound.

Some songs are excellent ("Optikus" and "Absinthe") , another - more experimental, but in whole you can find there fresh energetic sound of modern industrial shamanism. I think, KTU placing under eclectic prog tag is a big mistake, they are more avant prog. There they really will find much more dedicated listeners.

If you're bored of mellow endless harmonies and neo-symphonic clones and are hungry for new experimental heavy progressive sound, with industrial energy and Nordic mystic, just try this.

3,5 rounded to 4.

 Quiver by KTU album cover Studio Album, 2009
3.53 | 37 ratings

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Quiver
KTU Eclectic Prog

Review by amontes

5 stars Very powerful record. It is amolts impossible to listen to it if a woman is around you. This is great music. I still do not like completely, since I heard only a few times. But I am pretty sure that after many times I would like a lot. I think it is very good music to drive a car. Probably, you will go at full speed. This is nice sensation, like dangerous curves. One has to be careful, but you will enjoy for sure. I think the music is very great and the acordion is great. Pat Matelotto does a really great work here. Five stars of course.
 Quiver by KTU album cover Studio Album, 2009
3.53 | 37 ratings

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Quiver
KTU Eclectic Prog

Review by Epignosis
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

3 stars When I saw the lineup of this project, I was intrigued: The capable Pat Mastelotto doing what he does best behind the kit and Trey Gunn popping out oodles of notes on his Warr guitar. Fair enough- but then there's this guy named Kimmo Pohjonen, whom I'd never heard of- and what is his main instrument? I wasn't altogether sure what business an accordion had among the likes of Gunn and Mastelotto, but one of Pohjonen's goals has been to expand the sonic capabilities of the accordion, and in so doing, changing the way the instrument is viewed. In that, he does not fail. In this recording he creates sounds that one might say cannot possibly be from that maligned instrument, including a harmonica, synthesizer, and a church organ. For those seeking something a little different, this may be just what the doctor ordered. It isn't spectacular, but it's definitely worth checking out.

"Fragile Sun" The introductory track consists of the calm music of the accordion.

" Kataklasm" High-pitched tones with the accordion piping in now and again begin with a deceptive introduction. The heavily distorted guitars and powerful drumming form the basis for what sounds like a church organ in a demonic cathedral.

"Nano" Over a galloping rhythm, the accordionist plays a creative series of chords just before the piece turns into something darkly exotic. Over sparse instrumentation, what sounds like bells ring out a sinister melody.

"Quiver" This piece blends a more electronic flavor a la Ozric Tentacles with something more akin to Celtic music. It also features a growling, fiery guitar solo.

"Purga" Ominous, ambient sounds and quiet percussion sound like some malevolence lurking in the woods unseen- the only solace is the light of the accordion. The piece is almost tribal, complete with organic percussion and chanting voices.

"Womb" That mournful accordion, accompanied only by what sounds closer to a contrabass being abused, makes up this sparse track. In my mind these sounds evoke what I can only describe as watching- in hindsight- people happily board the Titanic.

"Wasabi Fields" Using a more traditional accordion tone and musical structure, this piece is perhaps the most accessible of the bunch, maintaining ever-so-slight Italian nuances.

"Jacaranda" The album changes feel with this spunky piece, which begins with a snappy Warr guitar introduction, but a drum solo consumes much of the second half.

"Aorta" After a hard-hitting, staccato introduction, the music becomes heavier, and I must say, a bit hard to follow. This is my least favorite on the album- almost headache-inducing.

"Miasmaa" On the other hand, this is one of my favorites here. This has a decidedly symphonic structure, almost making me think of Kansas with an accordion in lieu of a violin. It's hard-hitting and majestic all at once.

"Snow Reader" The final track has a light, spacey opening. I feel like this piece would have been much better suited toward the beginning- after the previous track, this one seems dull and uninspired, even though on its own, it's a delicate and enjoyable work.

 8 Armed Monkey by KTU album cover Live, 2005
3.23 | 19 ratings

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8 Armed Monkey
KTU Eclectic Prog

Review by Atavachron
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

2 stars A difficult and burdensome effort from Pat Mastelotto's experimental quartet which features the accordion as a lead instrument, KTU's '8 Armed Monkey' will try the patience of many. It may also challenge, enthrall and surprise. That depends on the listener, but there's certainly no lack of commitment on these five cuts averaging 9 minutes each. The whole affair is rather moody, emotionally deceptive and even playful, often giving us something we don't necessarily need to be hearing. The terribly gradual 'Sumu' or the disturbed orator in 'Optikus', with Samuli Kosminen's bizarre voice samples and accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen's tortured yelling. But when paid closer attention there is something worthy here, something musical at least. At times the recording swallows us not unlike the atmospherics of Kayo Dot, Mogwai, even the post-Discipline Crims, though KTU is rarely as compelling. 'Sineen' with its quasi-industrialism and Tortoise-like layers of noise, rock drive of 'Absinthe' when Mastelotto's skills finally break through and we get a killer performance from Trey Gunn on WG, and slow snakecharming in 'Keho' where the soft pulse of the earth generates some very strange things. Should this one go on your list? Probably not, but I give it points for at least trying to be a good collection of soundscapes and explorations of how music interacts with emotion.
Thanks to avestin for the artist addition.

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