NEVER SINCE

Scarlet Thread is a Finnish band which has made three albums, the first 2003, the second 2006 and now the third one 2013. They seem to use some qualified person to do their covers because they're very nice. This one for example is like a children book illustration with a bird coming out of an egg in the sea. I like the colours too. The Scarles Thread orchestra is made up by Jani Timoniemi (guitar), Sami Hiltunen(guitar), Erja Pätsi(violin), Here Nivukoski(drums) and Janne Tuovinen(bass). The guest musicians are Mari Vuoritie (vocals), Pekka Elsilä(flute) and Pasi Hiltula(keyboards)

When I started to listen I really enjoyed the sound of this band. "Dark world" opens in a good way, with a heavy rock sound with violin and guitar playing a folk influenced melody and a flute is added later. Then comes the vocals and I am not pleased with that vocalists participation. She seems to sing out of tune and a little bit squeaky. So without vocals I would have been more satisfied than now. First track is the best because of its folk melody(8/10) which reminds me of Steeleye Span. The second best track is an instrumental: "Instrumental agony" which rocks sweat and crazy(7/10). Otherwise the songs are enjoyable in some ways but the vocals destroy a lot, in my opinion.The vocal reminds me of the female voice of Swedish Kaipa which I don't either like. I shake my head and wonder additionally why she doesn't sing in Finnish, her native language? I have no idea why this music is called folk. I would have called it crossover prog.

What you'll find on this record is nice instrumentation in a progressive way and you'll really enjoy som of the vocal-less parts. The record is even and doesn't contain any bad track but I wouldn't recommend more than a couple. Three stars to Scarlet Thread!

This beautiful-covered album is the third and latest by Northern Finnish SCARLET THREAD. I haven't heard their earlier works but I read they're mostly instrumental Prog Folk. Here the vocals are by Mari Vuoritie whose bright voice resembles slightly the young KATE BUSH (but without the breath-taking depth in her expression). The instrumentation features violin, and a flautist guests on three tracks. The music is firmly both rocky and folky, with an emphasis on biting guitars, comparable to JETHRO TULL's Martin Barre. Keybaords are added only in the closing track, which is a pity: some organ and/or piano would have crowned the album's overall sound. The music is mostly written by guitarist Jani Timoniemi; lyrics are by the vocalist.

The album structure seem to favour the ideology of working each song to the maximum, instead of building bigger contrasts and arches between the tracks. This results as an evenly strong 45-minute album which at first may have some difficulties to keep the listener's mind focused. That is, the memorable highlights are not so easily found. One of my favourites is 'Tomb' thanks to the organ in it. But this "problem" may concern only the few earliest listenings, each song gets better with time. For example 'Ariadhron' placed in between tracks featuring the flute compensates that lack by the violin - which actually almost sounds like a flute!

The longest track 'An Old Dream' (8:23) is also the finest, with plenty of both flute and violin. And in it the vocals come closest to Kate Bush. 'Instrumental Agony' is a school example of a Prog Folk instrumental. Especially this track shows strong TULL influence; it could come from Songs From The Wood, if that album had violin. 'Turn into Air' is another grower, and so is the other 8+ minute track 'Under the Waters'; luckily the out-of-place vocal distortion is only briefly in the beginning.

I'm becoming more and more convinced this is a great work of British-style Prog Folk that gets better as it gets more familiar. Sadly the band is criminally unknown in Finland too, but it would be completely marketable internationally. I hope that someday I get to know their other releases, and that "Scarlet Thread will be back" as is printed below the credits. 4½ stars rounded up for the lovely cover art by Heli Loukusa.