UUTEEN AIKAAN

One of the lost and newly-found (that is, released as a CD recently) items of the Finnish prog history. Appeared on vinyl in 1980 but if I remember right was actually written years earlier, or at least the band had existed for years before their sole album finally came out to deaf ears. What else could one expect at the time when artistic prog rock was completely out of fashion? Stylistically this album could have come at the later haydays of prog, say 1975 (when TABULA RASA's debut came out); if there are sonic details or production more modern than mid-70's, they are neatly interwoven into the whole. And what's best, the album does not sound dated as so many of the late 70's/ early 80's albums do. Sound is tidy and clear but not clinic at all. It even has a folky feel.

Indeed, as Kenethlevine has already mentioned, this band comes close to the recent Finnish band called VIIMA and especially their wonderful debut which featured a female vocalist. SCAPA FLOW's vocalist is Pia-Maria Noponen who afterwards moved to Italy and has sadly passed away, if I remember the liner notes accurately. Also flute (and sax) is featured, in a more or less same manner as in Tabula Rasa or Viima (don't think of Ian Anderson). Melodic and delicate music bears some resemblance to Camel and Finnforest.

The tracks are not very long but they are quite complex and progressive in nature. Unfortunately, with only seven tracks, the album is only under 34 minutes long. (And in these days when 78 minutes is not rare running time of a CD, that can be frustrating. Actually it shouldn't feel like a fault if an album misses the standard 40+ length by few minutes!) But frankly, when the album is short, the more all of the material ought to be far from dull moments. I agree with Kenethlevine that there are forgettable passages, as well as banal male vocals (why, oh why?) What a pity: easily this could have been a top-notch classic stuff. 3½ stars - rounded up to keep the balance.