IKARO

It's been 10 years now since AALTO has been silent, with "Ikaro" remaining their latest. While similarities to fellow Finns TENHI can be advanced, this is a bit more upbeat, and is also informed by eastern European and MIddle Eastern influences and broad instrumentation. I'm particularly engrossed by the Balkan sounding numbers like "Vapahtaja", since many from that region moved to Finland to escape the war torn Yugoslavia, and AALTO can call to mind SEDMINA and DARNAKES among others. A raga like tendency flourishes on numbers like "Kastepisaroita II", though it withers on the opening track. "Hetsätaloushöömei" is perhaps the most TENHI-like and also my pick, though it came close to being silenced on my first listen. Its didgeridoo, banjo, and raspy male vocals intermingled with more harmonic male and female voices are spellbinding.

This might not quite soar like its namesake Icarus, but AALTO deserved to make more waves than fortune bestowed upon it. Perhaps a Round 2 is in the offing?