POLYSOMN

This album is one of the most colourful ones in 2020 that can give me a rich musical life. As for a Finnish KAIRON; IRSE!, my mate Eetu's let me know (thanks Eetu!), and on their Bandcamp page I've got absorbed into the sleeve pic of their latest album titled "Polysomn", that has more and more impressive contents in it. They are known as a Post / Math / Psych combo in the Finnish progressive rock scene, and we can find innovative sound variations via their latest production. Under such a tough pandemic situation that makes us stay home all over the world, and at the same time in an atmosphere of populism, they have created such a wonderful diversity- possessing album for every single Post / Math / Psych fan. Not sure why they could do such a good work under the no-good condition, but we can suggest they would have had a massive potential and strong intention for making material up, and surely they completed this opus in a strict manner. The melodic / rhythmic basis is repetitive but every phrase is quite melodious and enthusiastic.

From the beginning of the first shot "Psionic Static" a mysterious fantasy appears in front of us. Psych-y Math-y electric guitar opens the curtain. Based on deep heavy guitar fuzzes, brilliant melody lines featuring dreamy chorus veil us strongly and softly. The second track "Retrograde" has definitely authentic, bright metallic texture filled with theatrical moments here and there. A slow ballad "Welcome Blue Valkyrie" is drenched in fascinating flowery perfumed water and cool earthy distortion. Another excessive opening of "An Bat None" encourages us with kinda expectation of sunshine. Massive synthesizer shower is also good. Cannot usually touch such a creative development via other productions. "Mir Inoi" is a very simple and tiny song built with safe and sound vibes. The enchanting music collective drives us into another dimension.

In "Altaïr Descends" we would get tempted to the combination of dissected guitar sounds, silky delicate synthesizer fruits, and atmospheric chorus. "Hypnogram" involves complicated but comfortable synthesizer shots and magnificent guitar illuminations. Just like the title itself, this stuff gives us mysterious invitation. "White Files" is a short, catchy, and acceptable one but their soundgarden there is brilliant and vivacious. And yes the titled epilogue is crazy flavourful and energetic, just like Millésime Champagne with powerful body and long dreamy aftertaste. Into a dreamy dream.

"Polysomn" will remind us of promising future, despite the fact we are depressed under a horrible situation worldwide.

UNDERNEATH ALL THIS...

Apart from an unscuccessful speeding up between intro to main, opening track 'Psionic Static' is a lovely piece of work: heavy, groovy, math, prog. You're thinking you're in for a real tour de force, but what do you actually get?

First, allow me to digress for a moment: there used to be a music club where I used to live. Bands played, local and touring, and for years it was a great place to go. Yet people stopped going. Why? Because the resident sound engineer and part-owner had wrecked his hearing and couldn't hear upper-mid frequencies. He therefore booted them way up in the mix, leaving a sound that physically hurt. This is what this album sounds like.

Somewhere, buried underneath layers and layers of painful sonorities and amateurish production is a truly great album. Really. In between wincing at yet another oddly EQ'd guitar noise, or suffocating stodgy electonica, or complete lack of bass frequencies, there are (or should be) moments of real transcendence.

Yet in track after track, one is left thinking how unpleasant the sound is. It's not as if they've been pushed for time (one album every three years).