OPEN EYE BAND

The album is mostly instrumental, partly sung by various guest vocalists. The opener 'Thousands of Lakes' is atmospheric, nature-mystifying, slowly growing and nearly shamanistic track with wordless chanting by two women. Hanna-Maria Helenius sings the following title track, a rather straightforward rocker. In the little vocal-less sections I sense some nice folk-prog flavour. 'Stories' is a six-part suite (approximately 14 minutes in total) and clearly the proggiest thing here. Instrumental first part is very playful with its many tempo changes; fusion-like actually. The next two parts are more romantic ones featuring the beautiful soprano voice of Essi Wuorela, best known as a member in the accappella group RAJATON. Gorgeous melodies on 'So Long Ago'! Then a faster instrumental part with energetic rock combo playing and the accordion lead, continuing directly as an equally up-tempo vocal section. Final instrumental closes the suite nicely with some background singing by Wuorela.

The two following instrumentals are not really progressive, instead, one might say, easy-going upbeat pop tunes with an accordion in place of a vocalist. The tender ballad 'Sä tiedät ehkä sen' (You Probably Know It) has a string arrangement by Marzi Nyman (who guests on this album as a guitarist also) and male vocals in Finnish by Sami Saari.

The groovy 'Aku-Aku' is composed by Upi Sorvali. 'From My Heart for You' recycles the melody of 'Sä tiedät...' with totally another kind of arrangement, starring accordion. 'Stars' has a bold feeling of a finale in its shortness and slow fading out. Yes, this is sympathetic album in its own way, though I hardly expect it to have many more reviews here.