HARAKKA BIALOIPOKKU [AKA: B THE MAGPIE]

Since when I purchased Mathematical Air Display thinking to buy a mike Oldfield's album I've been impressed by the music of Pekka Pohjola, but that album remained a single episode in my collection for several years.

It's thank to PA that I've been able to find some more albums and the more I dig into his production the more I like it.

First of all he has a distinctive sound and production. The same that can be heard on the album re-recorded with Mike Oldfield. Respect to that album, that's the third, and to the debut, this one has more piano and more classical oriented parts.

It's a concept album, too. Recently I've seen a forum thread about "instrumental concept albums", and this deserves to be included in the list, even if I don't know anything of the concept, apart of being about a magpie. However the different feelings transmitted by each track give the impression of different moments of a story. There's no need to read the translation of the title to feel that "Bad Weather" is about a sad situation.

The whole album flows very well and is good both as background (car driving) and to concentrate on it on different level of attention. I mean that one can try to imagine the story behind the concept (regardless if you know it or not) or alternatively keep an ear to the skillful playing of all the band.

"Sekoilu seestyy ~ The madness subsides" deserves a special mention because of one of the best bass solos that I know. Pekka Pohjola was not usually very self-indulgent and this is one of the few bass solo in his discography.

I'm probably excessive, but 4 stars only seem too few to me.