SENNI ESKELINEN & STRINGPURÉE BAND

The Stringpuree Band is certainly among the most original groups around.And that's because their sound is based on its leader's electric kantele, a rarely found string instrument of the family of Baltic psalteries.Responsible for this is Senni Eskeklinen, who is known for playing the kantele on Nightwish'es ''Dark Passion Play'' album from 2007.Stringpuree hail from the Northern Savo region of Finland and, except Eskelinen, the original trio is completed by Niko Votkin on drums and Kalle Ylitalo on bass and slide guitar.They debuted in 2008 with a self-titled album on the independent label Texicalli Records, which issued the album both in CD and vinyl formats, while the trio was also helped by Astro Can Caravan's Otto Eskelinen on Farfisa synthorchestra and bandoneon and Emilia Lajunen on violin.

So, what sounds like when an electric kantele is combined with drums and bass?The result is a very atmospheric, electric and cinematic experience, where Folk Music meets Jazz/Fusion, while a slight Post Rock aura is also under the lines.Despite the limited instrumentation, the sound is dense and often powerful with jazzy and Ethnic orientations, highlighted by Eskelinen's work on kantele, which has an impressive sound somewhere between guitar, piano and harsichord.The music is mellow and smooth with occasional upbeat lifts, like on the extremely passionate ''Eastwood Agent'' and its intense KING CRIMSON-ian approach, based on a more powerful rhythm section and a more virtuosic and complicated performance by Eskelinen.A couple of very jazzy pieces, like for example ''Anxious Man'', are really fascinating and intricate, while you will be simply stunned by the ability of the trio to offer diverse atmospheres, exploring nostalgic territories, dark-sounding soundscapes and more cheerful textures.

Definitely a band to keep an eye on.Highly atmospheric music with well-based ideas and imaginative, slightly improvised themes, full of satisfying individual performances.Essential effort, if you happen to love both Folk and Jazz Music.