PERHOSNIITTY

Sigh... Esa Kotilainen has a unique history as one of the leading keyboard players in the Finnish popular music scene (he has played on dozens of artists' albums from Wigwam to Hector), and as a solo artist he's best remembered for his debut album Ajatuslapsi, which is very esoteric electronic progressive music. I haven't heard his later recordings which, if I understood, are also more or less experimental, inspired by factories or deep frost or whatever. Now, what do I get with his latest offering? Instrumental easy-listening music with a steady rhythm, starring an accordeon! Rather similar to some of Anssi Tikanmäki's music, but less powerful in imagery or melodies.

Tracks like 'Fossiili' are even irritating and monotonous. I wonder if an average accordeon-music listener will enjoy this either, because apart from a couple of nostalgic tunes, it's not exactly typical in that field at all. That is, not very danceable (perhaps a virtue in our context), but nothing special instead either, to grab the listener. Some close-to-the-nature kind of a person could use this album as a background music to some creative doings. Only few tracks are more enjoyable; 'Vuono Sininen' (Fjord Blue) has a nice laid back, by-the-lakeside atmosphere, and drummer Anssi Nykänen's contribution sounds good before the percussion-free, meditative section that gets a bit boring.

Here and there one hears interesting originality in handling the accordeon and adding some light moog or mellotron, but the compositions are rather half-baked. Overall, simply forget this one, even if you're among the seemingly few PA members who have found Kotilainen's former works fascinating.