FMQ - Reviews

Salamakannel – Greased Lightning

What happens when Finland’s national instrument, the kantele, is reimagined with electric bass, fiddle and rock and pop vocals? After a 30-year break, Salamakannel returns with a bold new album that blurs the line between ancient traditions and contemporary innovation.

Simon Broughton

January 29, 2025

Reviews

Four world music albums manage to be more than the sum of their parts

“What is the common denominator between Sámi-Finnish, Finnish-Caribbean, Finnish-Senegalese and klezmer music?” asks Riikka Hiltunen in this record review, which features four world music albums released in 2024.

Riikka Hiltunen

January 17, 2025

Reviews

New dimensions in saxophone

Finnish saxophonists are creating vivid music that leaps over fences between jazz, experimental and classical, as evidenced by four recent albums.

Wif Stenger

November 8, 2024

Reviews

Contemporary-early music – towards a merging of styles

The output of Ensemble Gamut! and its individual members showcases a trend where historically informed becomes the all-inspired.

Auli Särkiö-Pitkänen

October 4, 2024

Reviews

Kimmo Pohjonen: 60th Anniversary Concert and interview at the Helsinki Festival

One of Finland’s most adventurous accordionists celebrated his 60th birthday with a concert at the Helsinki Festival in August. In this article, Pohjonen reflects on his past and shares his current pursuits.

Simon Broughton

September 6, 2024

Reviews

Reinventing the concerto in five album takes

The concerto remains a cornerstone of contemporary music. How do recent recordings reinterpret this classical genre? In this article, Jari Juhani Kallio reviews the latest concerto releases by Finnish composers.

Jari Kallio

August 23, 2024

Reviews

Improvisation on three recent releases: From Skeletons to Lightyears Ahead

How does improvisation manifest on Finnish records today – in jazz and beyond? In this review article, Matti Nives, the founder and creative director of the Helsinki-based label, festival and magazine We Jazz, takes an in-depth look at three recent releases.

Matti Nives

June 27, 2024

Reviews

Original twilight tales

The band Sähköpaimen combines folk music heritage with electronic sounds. Their latest album, Hämärä (Twilight), is at once a refreshing listening experience and an intellectually stimulating mini-journey. Led by the band, we dive into various archives and countries, surrounded by a murky colour spectrum.

Tove Djupsjöbacka

May 24, 2024

Reviews

Instrument and player personalities inform Kalevi Aho’s organic composition process

Kalevi Aho has a natural productivity that is never forced: his composition process flows as naturally as breathing.

Auli Särkiö-Pitkänen

April 26, 2024

Reviews

Verneri Pohjola's world-building is both mindful and intuitive

"The dualism of serenity and restlessness on the one hand and the leaps of a monkey mind on the other can be found on the appropriately titled album Monkey Mind released by trumpet player Verneri Pohjola in November 2023," writes Santeri Kaipiainen.

Santeri Kaipiainen

April 5, 2024

Reviews

Contemporary music on the Music Centre concert hall organ

The new concert hall organ in the main auditorium of the Music Centre in Helsinki was put through its paces in contemporary repertoire for the first time at the solo recital given by organist Susanne Kujala in the Klang concert series on 12 February 2024. The audience, nearly 1,000 strong, was treated to a handsome selection of contemporary organ music, giving full rein to the features specifically designed for this purpose in the Rieger Orgelbau instrument.

Olli Virtaperko

March 8, 2024

Reviews

Poetic, ambitious cross-genre vocal project

Josefiina Vannesluoma, the fourth member of the vocal group Signe released an excellent solo album, giving flight to poems by Edith Wharton.

Wif Stenger

February 23, 2024

Reviews

Orpheus jamming with Väinämöinen

"The concept and dramaturgy of the album keep the listener wonderfully captivated for an hour," writes Santeri Kaipiainen about the Finnish Baroque Orchestra's (FiBO) album The World Is Born.

Santeri Kaipiainen

January 25, 2024

Reviews

In the footsteps of West African griots

"At the core of the music are minimalist, addictive riffs and acoustic West African sounds, centred around the balafon," writes Tove Djupsjöbacka about Faso Kan's album Tungaladen.

Tove Djupsjöbacka

January 19, 2024

Reviews

Savonlinna’s underground resurfaces

A lo-fi cult project blending sound collages, folk, ambient and indie rock re-emerges with sleeker production – and its melodic mystique intact.

Wif Stenger

November 24, 2023

Reviews

Gothic folk-rock and poignant jouhikko ballads

Pekko Käppi’s recent albums lean toward poignant ballads, often with a subversive twist – and the eerie, unsettling sound of his electric jouhikko.

Wif Stenger

November 17, 2023

Reviews

A cross-section of Finnish contemporary piano

Pianist Ville Hautakangas has brought together a cast of composers of different ages, whose musical backgrounds and starting points highlight the full richness of contemporary music.

Auli Särkiö-Pitkänen

November 3, 2023

Reviews

And Quiet Flows The Tape

The elements of Kokeguchi’s album are deeply sonorous and enchanting, not just suitably different from one another but also of a suitable length: the listener has time to become immersed in the soundscape but not get bored.

Santeri Kaipiainen

August 11, 2023

Reviews

Ambiguous opera watered down in recording

Mari Sainio's tonal language is anchored in postminimalism and the glamour of Broadway musicals.

Auli Särkiö-Pitkänen

August 11, 2023

Reviews

Timeless pelimanni music with fire and dedication

"It’s tantalising to try to hear how the sounds are formed – is that a plucking sound from the kantele, pizzicato from the viola or the popping of accordion buttons? Listening to this album, you really feel close to each musician and her instrument," writes Amanda Kauranne.

Amanda Kauranne

May 25, 2023

Reviews

Sculpting silence with picks and amplifiers

Minimalistic soundscapes in the middle grounds between formal and non-formal experimental music.

Santeri Kaipiainen

May 16, 2023

Reviews

Aural world that is artfuly lo-fi and uncluttered

Uusi Aika is an album that vividly suggests the imprint of traditional music that could be from various parts of the worlds, possibly Europe or the Far East, while the arrangements and performance point to a strong free improviser’s sensibility, writes Kevin Le Gendre.

Kevin Le Gendre

April 13, 2023

Reviews

Flamenco winds from the North

"Being a flamenco singer in Finland is not the easiest of career choices. One has to be thoroughly familiar with the genre yet be completely genuine and personal in one’s expression. Anna Murtola is clearly finding an identity of her own," writes Tove Djupsjöbacka in her review of Anna Murtola's latest album La tierra blanca.

Tove Djupsjöbacka

April 6, 2023

Reviews

Lötjönen’s dazzling jazz circus

The raucous, playful spirit of Charles Mingus hovers over the second album from jazz bassist Antti Lötjönen’s quintet.

Wif Stenger

February 23, 2023

Reviews

Sonic surprises

"A musical career having spent mostly in the background, Petri Hakala finally gets his reward in the form of Timo Alakotila’s compositions written directly for him and his mandolin. Mandolin Concerto provides a rarely heard line-up, a rich, although unmistakeably Nordic, amalgam of sounds, and some refreshing sonic surprises," writes Balázs Weyer in his review about Petri Hakala and Timo Alakotila's album Mandolin Concerto.

Balázs Weyer

December 19, 2022

Reviews

Quiet philosophy of the everyday

It takes courage to stay true to one’s vision and realize it in a way that feels authentic. This release by Eclipse Music provides a cross-section of Yli-Salomäki’s orchestral output. The title Valunta (‘Run-off’) is an apt description of an idiom in which expansive string writing and lingering wind melodies evoke premonitions from the peripheries of the mind.

Auli Särkiö-Pitkänen

December 7, 2022

Reviews

Wild music to dance away the darkness

"Instrumental tracks are where this album is at its strongest: Hurja Halla translates literally as “wild frost” and in this music we hear echoes of the untamed wildness of the duo’s forerunners who drew on archaic aesthetics – the band Hedningarna come to mind," writes Henna Salo.

Henna Salo

December 1, 2022

Reviews

Pictures at an Exhibition – compelling compositional voice of trumpeter Martti Vesala

“Nothing can be taken for granted on this third album from the Martti Vesala Soundpost Quintet. Each member is brilliant soloist, but they are also a supreme team totally in the groove with Vesala’s compositional visions, his exquisite soundworld and that fiery passion for music,” writes Fiona Talkington.

Fiona Talkington

November 15, 2022

Reviews

Silence between the notes

"This is nocturnal music and by that I mean a dark night with a clear sky – a night for those who embrace it as an opportunity to see more, see deeper, see further," writes Balazs Weyer.

Balázs Weyer

November 4, 2022

Reviews

Magnus Lindberg’s Piano Concerto No. 3 premiered by Yuja Wang, the SFSO and Salonen

Magnus Lindberg’s Piano Concerto No. 3 was recently premiered by Yuja Wang and the San Francisco Symphony, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. The concerto is a virtuoso affair, writes Jari Kallio.

Jari Kallio

November 2, 2022

Reviews

Yoik and choir collaboration without borders

"Award winning conductor Erik Westberg and his vocal ensemble teamed up with Sámi musicians to create a one of a kind album."

Saara-Maria Salonen

September 22, 2022

Reviews

Charting a musical map of the Nordic countries

"The book is above all a profuse and expert love letter to music and life in the Nordic countries. Mellor’s expertise in and enthusiasm for his subject comes clearly across in the text."

Lasse Lehtonen

August 16, 2022

Reviews

The two sides of a Sibelius coin

Finland’s latest star conductor, Klaus Mäkelä, has caused a bit of a stir with his Decca label debut - a full cycle of Sibelius Symphonies, no less. But what part of the success is calculated studio work and what is an exceptional flow of music that can also be achieved in concert? To find out, we can compare the studio recording to a recent live experience at Hamburg Elbphilharmonie.

Marcus Stäbler

June 17, 2022

Reviews

Living Tradition

"Just as in a jam session the main action on this album happens on the up-tempo tunes. These cats sure like to burn!"

Eero Koski

June 10, 2022

Reviews

Organic equality at the Musequal Festival

Endorsing equality in classical music in artistically meaningful and organic ways is no small endeavour. Yet, this was the very goal undertaken last weekend at Musequal Festival* in Janakkala, circa hundred kilometres north from Helsinki.

Jari Juhani Kallio

May 25, 2022

Reviews

The kantele empress strikes back

"Kauhanen’s one-woman-band concept, where she sings while playing the kantele and percussion, is hugely impressive."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

May 23, 2022

Reviews

Made in Finland is a label allowing space for multiple identities – at least in ballet

"Witnessing the well-oiled production machinery of the FNB at work, one can sense that every creative contributor has had enough space and responsibility to dispel any need for power struggles or artistic compromises. The goal was reached through a common effort."

Kare Eskola

May 20, 2022

Reviews

Late-night contemporary music? Solutions at Tampere Biennale

Although many festivals and performing organisations have shown extraordinary creativity in programming contemporary music, demonstrating, at best, genuine interest in diversity and innovation, especially during the pandemic, one perennial question still remains largely unanswered; what to do with late-night shows?

Jari Juhani Kallio

April 20, 2022

Reviews

Two and one does make sense

"The vocabulary of ambient electronica woven into the lexicon of acoustic jazz."

Kevin Le Gendre

April 14, 2022

Reviews

Young guns embrace the risk

"Tomi Nikku manages to blend the sonorities of post-modern jazz with neo-romantic harmony and counterpoint. The result is a mixture that is able to stand sonically on its own."

Eero Koski

April 14, 2022

Reviews

The new voice on the scene!

"The sound of Riikka Keränen combines elements of post-bop jazz with tonalities and sensibilities of a more pop-oriented approach."

Eero Koski

April 14, 2022

Reviews

Fresh new steps from Ed Partyka

"UMO Helsinki Jazz Orchestra maintains its track record of working with the right people on the right music for the right time."

Kevin Le Gendre

April 14, 2022

Reviews

The most Finnish music possible?

"One instantly gets the concept when a tango album begins with the sound of an Indian tambura drone!"

Eero Koski

April 14, 2022

Reviews

Stoking a quiet fire

"The music can smoulder for lengthy passages but the flame eventually burns bright."

Kevin Le Gendre

April 14, 2022

Reviews

Popular Music Made in Finland - A book review

"If you are interested in the 'progressive' varieties of Finnish popular music and do not read Finnish, this is the book for you."

Pekka Gronow

April 5, 2022

Reviews

Embraced by vocals and stringed instruments

"The ten tracks on the disc form an attractive whole showcasing the ancient connection between humans, music and nature and, on the other hand, modern cosmopolitanism."

Amanda Kauranne

February 10, 2022

Reviews

Raucous dancing and melancholy tones

"There are raucous dances with shifting metres, but there are also melancholic melodic arcs and soft moods."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

February 10, 2022

Reviews

Classics seen with new eyes

"Polenta’s innovative arrangements highlight the natural rhythms and lovely melodies of these traditional pieces, and their sound world extends to a grand cinematic feel, complete with angelic harmonies."

Amanda Kauranne

February 10, 2022

Reviews

A spoonful of metal makes the folk tunes take wing

"This music is clearly made for dancing – but in what way? That is for the listener to decide: one can dance Finnish and Karelian folk dances with their familiar steps to this music or listen to the metal sounds and make a mosh pit out of it."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

February 10, 2022

Reviews

Rap aesthetics with soil under the fingernails

"I enjoy the world haapoja & illmari kollektiivi create, where a folk music mood coexists with rap aesthetics and a soundscape vibe. Folk music is in the air, and the sound is so earthy you can practically hear the soil under the fingernails."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

February 10, 2022

Reviews

Virtuoso weirdness facing a sacred experience

"The album makes the point that the need of the human animal to experience the sacred is tied up with the history of sexuality, gender and power."

Amanda Kauranne

February 10, 2022

Reviews

Accordion – boldly engaged with Magnus Lindberg

"Valkeajoki is so adept at arranging and performing this material that it seems like these nimble arabesques, continuous and expansive pillars of sound and incisive yet organic accents were always intended for keyboard and bellows."

Kare Eskola

November 30, 2021

Reviews

Linking Finland and Spain in the classical guitar tradition

"The greatest merit of this disc is in demonstrating how natural even the oddest of musical combinations can seem if driven by genuine, experience-based musicianship."

Kare Eskola

November 30, 2021

Reviews

Sonic shavings from the workbench

"Janne Mertanen lets the music speak for itself, though also taking the few virtuosic challenges in his stride."

Martin Anderson

November 30, 2021

Reviews

Transcendence and transparency

"Take note not just of the eloquence of the cello lines but also of the transparency, the delicacy, the weightless loveliness of so much of the orchestral writing."

Martin Anderson

November 30, 2021

Reviews

De-marginalising repertoire, one disc at a time

"There are gems to be discovered in this repertoire, disdained by contemporaries and marginalised by history."

Kare Eskola

November 30, 2021

Reviews

Breathtaking virtuosity, frozen melancholy

"There is an encyclopaedic dimension to the compositional work of Kalevi Aho, manifest in his comprehensive series of solo concertos and solo pieces for different instruments."

Anna Pulkkis

November 30, 2021

Reviews

Old tales, new sounds

"It will come as no surprise that Dima Slobodeniouk and his Lahti musicians give all four works committed and lively performances, and that the BIS team have captured them in vivid sound."

Martin Anderson

November 30, 2021

Reviews

Powerful orchestral images by Fagerlund

"The latest BIS release with Sebastian Fagerlund’s orchestral music includes powerful performances of two works that belong to his most convincing achievements in this genre."

Anna Pulkkis

November 30, 2021

Reviews

Concertante cordial

"Kalevi Aho has been one of the major concertogenists, if I may coin that word, composing no fewer than 37 since 1981."

Martin Anderson

November 30, 2021

Reviews

Fagerlund’s modern impressionism works well in chamber music too

"Sebastian Fagerlund's chamber works are attractive, shot through with primeval energy yet shaped with a dextrous flexibility."

Kare Eskola

November 30, 2021

Reviews

The groovy and lyrical saxophone

"Joonatan Rautiola’s and Marko Hilpo’s duo plays with enjoyable precision and sensitivity. The lyrical qualities of the saxophone come to the fore."

Anna Pulkkis

November 30, 2021

Reviews

Brightness and darkness of the Baltic Sea in the sound of a string quartet

"The disc attunes the listener’s mind to protecting the Baltic Sea, and this in turn seems to imbue the music with even more meaning."

Kare Eskola

November 30, 2021

Reviews

A saxophonist’s intimate solo debut

"The album reveals new dimensions of Fredriksson’s personality and artistry. Beyond their prowess on saxophone, there is a wider palette of expression on guitar and keyboards as well as bass clarinet, with various horns multi-tracked for solo duets."

Wif Stenger

October 28, 2021

Reviews

Not your ordinary organ trio

"The eight compositions on this record, most by Innanen, exhibit a broad stylistic and musical spectrum."

Jan-Erik Holmberg

October 28, 2021

Reviews

Jazz fatale, Lassy style

"The seven tracks on the disc, all written by Lassy, seem to form a thematic whole and succeed in maintaining a coherent, magic mood."

Petri Silas

October 28, 2021

Reviews

To boldly go where no man has gone before

"Divided Horizon starts ever so gently yet progresses rapidly towards a more forceful and playful expression. High on logic but never too calculated, Rissanen eases himself into the role of a weathered storyteller as the album flows along."

Petri Silas

October 28, 2021

Reviews

A fresh revisit to the roots

"While the music sticks to the tradition, the sound of the recording is contemporary. The album is a timeless delight for admirers of all things bop."

Jan-Erik Holmberg

October 28, 2021

Reviews

The bearable heaviness of Kaivos

The Kaivos festival, held at the disused copper mine in Outokumpu, brought to this unique environment a serving of musical, visual and performance art that did strange things to time – being experienced by audience members variously as a meditation, a swim in the ice or a profound experience of communing with nature.

Santeri Kaipiainen

October 8, 2021

Reviews

One love from Helsinki to Cotonou

"A decade into their career, Finnish-African jazz-funk band Helsinki-Cotonou Ensemble has come up with its fifth and strongest album."

Wif Stenger

August 19, 2021

Reviews

An impressive disc broadening the spectrum of percussion music

"Percussionist Minna Koskenlahti’s first solo album, Toinen/Other, is an utterly hypnotic experience. It challenges the listener to engage with thoughts and emotions."

Amanda Kauranne

August 19, 2021

Reviews

Folk music meets Baroque violin – with harpsichord on the side

"The contrasts found in polska tunes reflect the structures of Pandolfi’s sonatas quite wonderfully. The transitions between the two genres are bold and invigorating."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

August 19, 2021

Reviews

The raw power of folk tradition and fantasy

"Each track makes the listener marvel at the many facets of the stories and of the music. The wild and wonderful tales of folk tradition have here found a worthy interpreter."

Amanda Kauranne

August 19, 2021

Reviews

Forget pigeonholing and enjoy the boundless musical invention!

"The Ilkka Heinonen Trio operates with a broad and downright electrifying range of colours."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

August 19, 2021

Reviews

Saariaho’s opera Innocence is touching and gripping

Kaija Saariaho has done it again: her opera Innocence, premiered in Aix-en-Provence, proved to be a masterpiece and was enthusiastically received by the audience and critics alike. Its distressing subject, a school shooting, was merely the starting point for a multi-faceted exploration of humanity and trauma. Text, music and drama came together in a rich and emotional blend. Is this the best opera that Saariaho has ever written?

Harri Kuusisaari

August 5, 2021

Reviews

Clarity of expression, through the mist

Finnish coloratura soprano Anu Komsi has been commissioning, premiering and recording music by Saariaho since the 1980s. Now she and her trusted collaborative pianist Pia Värri have compiled an intense selection of Saariaho.

Kare Eskola

June 8, 2021

Reviews

The darkest recesses of the human heart

"Jutta Seppinen, versatile and vulnerable in the roles of both the victim and the abuser, manages to brilliantly express the emotional contradictions embedded in the situation."

Anna Pulkkis

May 6, 2021

Reviews

Electroacoustics of a natural origin

"Luonnos, the title of the collection of four electroacoustic works by Ilari Hongisto, refers to a sketch but also, in colloquial Finnish, to being in the nature."

Anna Pulkkis

May 6, 2021

Reviews

Zinovjev knows how to make electroacoustics smooth and rough

"Sauli Zinovjev has an excellent command of collaboration with musicians and an advanced understanding of sound and of drama."

Kare Eskola

May 6, 2021

Reviews

The Majesty of the Miniature

"Sibelius’ piano output is full of one gem after another; and they usually hold together as collections, too: he assembled his miniatures with care and an ear to tonal progressions and variety of expression."

Martin Anderson

May 6, 2021

Reviews

Old Friends and New

"The performances are spotless: Kajsa Dahlbäck’s soprano is pure and agile, and her fellow musicians all acquit themselves splendidly when given their chance to shine."

Martin Anderson

May 6, 2021

Reviews

The accordion in polite society: smiles and sighs

"This is more than just a light-hearted historical entertainment, as it concludes with a heavenly version of Casta diva by Bellini, delivered with an emotional human touch that takes the listener’s breath away and would make Maria Callas green with envy."

Kare Eskola

May 6, 2021

Reviews

From runo roots to the UZone lair

"The JuuriJuhla-RotFest (Roots Festival) takes place in Espoo each year and says it has its own roots in the pelimanni folk dance music, although most of the concerts range much wider. It featured top names on the Finnish roots music scene."

Simon Broughton

April 14, 2021

Reviews

Playful and vivacious

"The album is musically diverse. Clocking in at just over half an hour, it is short enough to make the listener wish for a couple of extra tracks, but as such it also leaves an appetite for the band’s next album."

Laura Korhonen

April 8, 2021

Reviews

“And one man in his time plays many parts”

"Pianist Cecil Taylor appeared on the Tampere Jazz Happening stage with his European Quintet [in 1998.] What ensued was a remarkable journey through sound and vision."

Petri Silas

April 8, 2021

Reviews

Don’t let the name fool you

"While this hard-swinging combo is stylistically firmly rooted in the past, the delivery is rather fresh."

Jan-Erik Holmberg

April 8, 2021

Reviews

Leading from the bassline

"Mäensivu also has three strong originals on the disc, saving the best for last: closing tune The Lemur is also the perfect showcase for her bass playing, scampering agilely as a lemur up a tree."

Wif Stenger

April 8, 2021

Reviews

Multi-instrumentalists and eight drummers in acoustic landscapes

"There seems to be no bounds to the sheer imagination poured into the sound worlds and effects inhabiting this album."

Laura Korhonen

April 8, 2021

Reviews

Cinematic meditations

"Mostly acoustic with discreet electronic underpinning, this is simply beautiful music with some of the husk left on."

Wif Stenger

April 8, 2021

Reviews

Jazz tradition with modern spices

"Riitta Paakki and her band never show off. They work together admirably well, delivering a delightful musical experience."

Marita Nyrhinen

April 8, 2021

Reviews

Eminently competent Finnish jazz vocalist

"Aili Ikonen is a breath of fresh air in the firmament of Finnish contemporary vocal artists and vocal jazz."

Marita Nyrhinen

April 8, 2021

Reviews

A grower and a keeper

"Perhaps that’s Kämäräinen’s superpower: He manages to sound like a bandmember even when occupying the sonic space all by himself. What an absolute gem of a disc Timo Kämäräinen has come up with."

Petri Silas

April 8, 2021

Reviews

Organic meets synthetic

"This interim release is clearly ready for post-pandemic parties – and who isn’t?"

Wif Stenger

April 8, 2021

Reviews

Manipulating time

"The delicate interplay flourishes on the tetchy and heavy groove of Zomp, the hypnotic pulse of Kobi and the polyrhythmic drive of Telemagenta. Live Recordings 2019–2020 is a slam dunk of restrained energy and vivid communication."

Petri Silas

April 8, 2021

Reviews

Fun in a serious way

"Tango-stomping, disco bass lines on tuba, Brazilian carnival rhythms, twisted country and ditto dixie, are some of the ingredients. But you will also find continental romantics and dystopian free-tonal characteristics in the melodies."

Jan-Erik Holmberg

April 8, 2021

Reviews

The tension between music and concept art

"On the whole, this disc remains with the listener for longer than one would expect from its adventurous musical content, but its impressiveness is not because of activism or political relevance but because of the tension between music and concept art on the one hand and between political and absolute music on the other."

Kare Eskola

March 29, 2021

Reviews

Alma! - The fantastic tapestry of a woman’s life

"Minna Leinonen manages to pull off the most important requirement in writing an opera: to write music that perfectly merges with the other elements surrounding it but nevertheless retains its own voice. [- -] I would not hesitate to describe Alma! as a major breakthrough for Leinonen."

Harri Kuusisaari

February 24, 2021

Reviews

Ville Ojanen goes intimate with a luxury lineup

"The tunes are close to traditional danceable folk music (from different regions) but always with personal twists and turns."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

February 5, 2021

Reviews

Tradition is an inexhaustible source of joy

"Sväng have now returned to their roots in a refreshing and energetic rediscovery of tradition – an inexhaustible source of joy."

Amanda Kauranne

February 5, 2021

Reviews

Rich re-interpretation of early music

"Ensemble Gamut!'s repertoire ranges from daringly and freshly arranged folk songs to Medieval and Renaissance compositions. Improvisation and electronics are also included."

Riikka Hiltunen

February 5, 2021