in Reviews

Subterranean improvisation

by Petri Silas

"As experimental but more electronically enhanced than its predecessor, Under the Ground echoes with the sound of cyberpunk and sci-fi e-books rather than ancient manuscripts and dusty scrolls of parchment. "

TAPANI RINNE & TEHO MAJAMÄKI
Under the Ground
Aani Records AA-X-024

Calling woodwinds specialist Tapani Rinne and percussionist Teho Majamäki adventurous is a huge understatement. Sometimes together, but more often apart, they have blazed numerous trails through unknown territories with dozens of artists.

To see where the wild and wonderful Under the Ground began, one must go back to 2011 and the twosome’s first joint venture. Recorded in the Maharasthra temples of India, the inspirational Inside the Temple was a meditation in sound and a trip beyond the void of time and space.

The exciting core idea comes alive with this album, where the duo chose another inspiring yet more modern place to play in. This time around, Rinne and Majamäki acquired a permit to use the tunnels of the subterranean “Kehärata”, which linked the centre of Helsinki to the Vantaa airport before the tracks and other fixtures were installed.

As experimental but more electronically enhanced than its predecessor, Under the Ground echoes with the sound of cyberpunk and sci-fi e-books rather than ancient manuscripts and dusty scrolls of parchment. One wonders whether the explorers are already eyeing Onkalo, the infamous nuclear waste storage, as their next ad hoc studio.