SINUN TÄYTYY ELÄÄ VIELÄ KERRAN

Northern Finnish band RIUTTA released their debut Kaikki On Hyvin in 2013. Being now signed to the new Luova Records they have finally made a follow-up; the title means "You Must Live One More Time". The good-looking cover design is By Henri Turunen (vcals,guitars, keyboards). This album is a clear improvement over the debut: the songs are more atmospheric and the sound mellower and more balanced.

Three of the four members play keyboards in addition to their primary instrument, but actually keys remain quite unnoticeable in the background, while the more or less distorted guitar dominates, though not at all too much. There's a slight Post-Rock feel and the rather melancholic atmosphere could be compared to bands such as PORCUPINE TREE and RADIOHEAD. The opener named by a river operates between edginess and dreamy softness - like the album in general. One must consciously concentrate on sparse lyrics - and be a speaker of Finnish language! - and notice the powerfu imagery ("I push you to the bottom") to fully sense the emotional depth, as the Steven Wilson -like frail vocals are very far from insistent sharpness.

The longest, 8-minute track 'Sykli' has a relatively extended instrumental passage with harmonium-sounding keyboards. 'Kahdeksan minuuttia' (= 8 Minutes) in which "the sun won't rise anymore" is my favourite song with its distinctive drum pattern and the guest appearance of female backing vocals. 'Lorenz' is an acoustically oriented, delicate little song. The vocal distortion in the final track sounds tiringly passé, but as a whole this album is a winner that grows on the listener.