FMQ - FMQ Spring/2016 Articles

A musical force to be reckoned with

A musical force to be reckoned with

A musical force to be reckoned with

"With Turmio Okra Playground have swept on to Finland’s folk music scene with a distinctive celebration of Finnish traditions and stories driven by captivating energy and passion and an obvious historical perspective."

Fiona Talkington

June 4, 2016

Sunlight therapy straight into the heart

Sunlight therapy straight into the heart

Sunlight therapy straight into the heart

"The music is colourful and captivates the listener, because every sound on the album works – from three fiddlers breathing in unison to the grunge of the rock trio to rich keyboard timbres to the sampled sounds of a jetty squeaking in the waves."

Amanda Kauranne

June 4, 2016

Sound blessing

Sound blessing

Sound blessing

"The sound they achieve together on their third album is quite a blessing, and Timonen offers both jazzy atmosphere as well as some traditional playing."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

June 4, 2016

Feel the folk song

Feel the folk song

Feel the folk song

"What’s a folk song? Freija’s answer is broad enough to include both songs in Kalevala metre and evergreens, and both fit the band very well."

Tove Djupsjöbacka

June 4, 2016

Having some defun

Having some defun

Having some defun

"defunensemble is a Finnish group specialising in electroacoustic music. This new double CD introduces the ensemble’s versatility. One of the discs displays works for solo instruments and electronics, while the other is built around various ensemble configurations."

Juha Torvinen

June 4, 2016

A beguiling and compulsive musical journey

A beguiling and compulsive musical journey

A beguiling and compulsive musical journey

"It’s enough to say 'this is Sanna' because that means, as ever, a beguiling and compulsive musical journey."

Fiona Talkington

June 4, 2016

Der Wanderer

Der Wanderer

Der Wanderer

Ville Matvejeff is one of the most successful classical musicians in Finland today. He performs as a conductor and pianist around the world, he is artistic director or musical advisor at festivals, and he has composition commissions lined up for several years to come. His career is exceptionally diverse and wide-ranging.

Hanna Isolammi

June 4, 2016

Songs with thoughts

Songs with thoughts

Songs with thoughts

"The band of Estonian musicians sounds healthy. Especially notable is Keio Vutt’s strong saxophone playing. Although a bit lacking in originality, this record still is a worthy first effort."

Jan-Erik Holmberg

May 4, 2016

Nordic cool

Nordic cool

Nordic cool

"Teddy’s West Coasters’ Volume 2, like its predecessor, pays homage to the West Coast Cool of the 1950s American jazz scene, an era which has clearly captured the imagination of bandleader/composer/arranger Teppo Mäkynen."

Pierre Ringwald

May 4, 2016

Cinematic atmospherics and dance floor burners

Cinematic atmospherics and dance floor burners

Cinematic atmospherics and dance floor burners

"On Slavic Souls, Dalindèo continue to experiment with the musical influences – jazz, 50s r&b and 60s surf in particular – which defined their award-winning album, Kallio. "

Pierre Ringwald

May 4, 2016

For Brain and Heart

For Brain and Heart

For Brain and Heart

"On Amorandom, Rissanen’s canny music is rooted in the piano trio tradition but is nevertheless forward-looking. "

Jan-Erik Holmberg

May 4, 2016

Ethno-disco on bagpipes

Ethno-disco on bagpipes

Ethno-disco on bagpipes

"This is a disc of delightfully pompous acoustic stadium folk that without any doubt will have people dancing. Described as all-natural ethno-disco, the repertoire consists of repetitive kantele and jouhikko tunes and fiddle melodies from both Finnish-speaking and Swedish-speaking regions of Finland."

Amanda Kauranne

May 4, 2016

Western & Jazz

Western & Jazz

Western & Jazz

"Kalima is famed for his industrially rocking power trios and murky music with notes in between scales, sometimes inspired by films. Once again movies are a starting point, but now they play familiar themes from flicks like The High and the Mighty or The Alamo. "

Jan-Erik Holmberg

May 4, 2016

Experimental solo project

Experimental solo project

Experimental solo project

"While the application of electronic effects to acoustic instruments can seem superfluous at best, Lyytinen’s compositions never lose sight of the saxophone itself. "

Pierre Ringwald

May 4, 2016

Democracy in the music education of the future

Democracy in the music education of the future

Democracy in the music education of the future

What does democratic education look like from the perspective of music? In October 2015, the ArtsEqual research initiative was launched to survey equality in various branches of the arts. At its centre is Resonaari, a music institute leading by example to show what potential musicianship may be found in the margins of society.

Tuulikki Laes

May 4, 2016

Playfully seductive

Playfully seductive

Playfully seductive

"Mirja Mäkelä Trio’s My Hidden Joys is a beautifully crafted album which showcases both Mäkelä’s songwriting skills and her vocal prowess. "

Pierre Ringwald

May 4, 2016

First Class Björkenheim

First Class Björkenheim

First Class Björkenheim

"As expected, the Finnish-American jazz guitar hero does not brake a whole lot on eCsTaSy’s Out of the Blue. Raoul Björkenheim and his cohorts, Pauli Lyytinen (saxophones), Jori Huhtala (double bass) and Markku Ounaskari (drums), make sharp turns but never miss a corner."

Jan-Erik Holmberg

May 4, 2016

Around the world

Around the world

Around the world

Multi-instrumentalist Teho Majamäki has spent the past fifteen years collecting musical influences, tunes and sounds on his travels around the world.

Sini Mononen

January 8, 1985

A perfect balance between restraint and abandon

A perfect balance between restraint and abandon

A perfect balance between restraint and abandon

Pierre Ringwald

January 8, 1985