Member:
rarebird
(Profile)
(All Album Reviews by rarebird)
Date:
2/2/2007
Format:
CD (Album)
The music of Viima can best be described as a mix of Genesis and Jethro Tull, with a female vocalist singing lyrics in Finnish. The opening-song “Leijonan syksy” starts with a short, tender synthesizer-part which reminds me a bit on Genesis. Later there is a part which sounds a bit more like Jethro Tull. The song has a great guitar-solo from Mikko Uusi-Oukari, who also adds some flute. The vocals of Päivi Kylmänen gave me the impression there was a man singing this song. This impression has disappeared with the next song. I can’t compare her really with any singer I know, but that might have something to do with the language. At least I know for sure she doesn’t sound like Anne Haslam. Again there is a nice synthesizer-solo and the song ends with a great church-organ.
"Ilmalaiva Italia" takes off quiet with some synthesizer and acoustic guitar, later joined by some nice vocals. The song creates the impression of someone watching over a calm sea, with some summer wind. Suddenly the clouds gather and a storm breaks lose. No, this doesn’t sound a single bit like Genesis or Jethro Tull. The music gets some heavy guitar riffing and some screaming soloing on guitar and synthesizer. According the lyrics, this song is about Umberto Nolile’s journey to the North Pole, with the airship Italia. On its way back, the airship crashed. Roald Amundsen joined a rescue-mission, which failed. In the end Nobile and 7 other participants were saved, while 8 others lost their lives. This makes a perfect fit for the music, with the heavy part symbolising the crash and the harsh polar weather. The song ends as quiet as it has begun. Meri has some great organ parts and a nice flute-solo. Luuttomat starts dreamy with acoustic guitar, flute and vocals. There is a short interlude with electric guitar and alto-saxophone and later the song gets a more electric character with electric guitar, keyboards and a nice solo on alto-saxophone, played by guest-musician Kimmo Alho. The song ends quiet, just like it begun.
"Johdatus" is the longest track on this beautiful album and it is perhaps the most complicated one, with some nice piano work and a nice electric guitar solo. I really love the keyboards on this CD and Kimmo Lähteenmäki does some great soloing, mainly on synthesizer.
I think people who love symphonic prog with some folk influences, should try this album out. I’m looking forward to their second album, though the line-up has had some changes after this debut.
Member:
avestin
(Profile)
(All Album Reviews by avestin)
Date:
5/19/2008
Format:
CD (Album)
Viima’s Sympholk
Wonderful, melodic music this album entails. Peaceful and lovely female vocals are enhanced by the delicate flute, but there is no lack of propulsion in the music. On the other hand, there’s a good amount of vibrancy and vitality mixed with well done compositions and high level musicianship. There is a “joix de vivre” sensation throughout the album. Not only that, but great warmth emanates from the music. The music is elevating and inspirational.
With the fabulous vocal harmonies come wonderful keyboard playing, guitar solos and “painting” by the flute. The second song, “Ajatuksia maailman laidalta”, is a wonderful example of just that. An uplifting melody that is improved by the band’s use of contradiction of the guitars and keyboards, each giving a somewhat opposing mood that blend in together very well. This song also shows how their compositional skills are good since it is very easy to make this music boring and yet this is a very captivating piece of music that is quite varied and very compelling. There is no use of bombastic tricks in here, everything flows perfectly and feels very natural. The third track, “Ilmalaiva Italia”, can fool you with its peaceful calm beginning. But then in the middle it turns rock on you and starts blasting out, with regards to the criteria of this record. A great keyboards and guitar soloing goes on until the song goes back to its initial pace.
I won’t go into the other songs but they are as wonderful as the ones I mentioned. This is another feat of this album; the high level kept throughout this release. In the end, it’s not only the beauty of this music that is captivating, and the excellent playing that goes on; it’s also the variety they show in their songs, whether in the structure of the songs or in the moods that change within them.
While I wouldn’t compare it necessarily to Renaissance (perhaps it’s the singer’s voice that brings this up), it is not that misleading, however a good pinpoint would be a “folklorized” Camel and Mostly Autumn is also a fair allusion to make.
This is a sympholk gem that I highly recommend grabbing.
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