PIHKASILMÄ KAARNAKORVA

Pohjola's debut album, recorded while he was still a member of Wigwam, shows him still feeling the space and discovering his unique voice. He wears his influences on his sleeve, particularly instrumental Zappa, on his sleeve here more than anywhere else.

That said, it's still a relatively strong album. "Nipistys" is probably the best-known track here, which was performed live with Wigwam at the time. Here it's paired with the airy, organic "Valittaja". Already, Pohjola's predilection for massing wind instruments to orchestrate surfaces here, albeit in a more modest form, with only Risto Rensola and the late, great Pekka Pöyry along for the ride.

I recommend getting the 2-on-1 with his excellent second album, HARAKKA BIALOIPOKKU. This particular album is straighter jazz-fusion, with little hint of the orchestral majesty of his later work. And yet, it still sounds like a Pekka Pohjola album, albeit in embryonic form. Recommended, but not as a starter album.