AJAN PEILI

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.