TORNADON SILMÄSSÄ

With their second release, Finland's VIMMA streamline their AVANT fusion folk into Global pop realms in a clever concoction residing somewhere near the intersection of OF MONSTERS AND MEN, MECANO, AFRO CELT SOUND SYSTEM, DIABO NA CRUZ, MARTYN BENNETT, ANGELIQUE KIDJO, and many others. The two most impressive tracks are right at the start, the infectious pop masterpiece "Apocalypse", whose mix on two other versions that close the disk is the same apart from the language, and the eminently danceable fiddle driven "Antrasiitille". The short form is maintained throughout but so is the adventurousness of the arrangements and the now familiar spoken word segments. Most lack the wow factor, including the title track which at least gives hard rock a try for a change, but "On syy" imaginatively whips a transient boost into an otherwise hypnotic piano figure and romantic vocals. The arsenal of wind instruments rom the debut is missed along with its purveyor Jaakko Arola.

Not quite as chaotic as its title suggests, and not quite as frenzious as the group name suggests, "Tornadon silmässä" is nonetheless a pleasing second entry from a band that wants to evolve organically and document its transitions as they occur.