Viima - "Ajatuksia maailman laiddalta"
(Viima Records VIIMA-001)
Viima - "Ajatuksia maailman laiddalta"
(Viima Records VIIMA-001)
Uploaded to Aural Innovations June 2006
Viima are a new Finnish band who plays folk inspired progressive rock with all Finnish female vocals. What a fabulous voice she has as well. All the lyrics are available in English at the bands web site. The opening track, Leijonan Syksy, is a very beautiful song with flute and a nice guitar solo and reminds me of Jethro Tull around the '72'-73 era. This is very happy, and extremely well played and emotional rock music with a lot of 70's influences. Ajatuksia mailman Laidalta is next and is quite similar to the opening track but then prominently features a piano solo in the middle section before the cool wah guitar solo melts into the keyboard sounds. At times the music reminds me a bit of the Italian prog rock scene sounds. Ilmalaiva Italia begins with some acoustic guitar and is very mellow but at 2½ minutes the track really changes dynamics and rocks with a real ROCK guitar solo that leads into the synthesizer solo before they bring it all back down like the track started. Meri is next and begins with some sampled ocean waves and beautiful guitar and vocals. The way the keyboard line and guitar work together on this track is really brilliant. Luuttomat is next and starts mellow with acoustic guitars and then builds up and includes a saxophone and flute solo as well. The last track, Johdatus, is also the longest track, and begins like Gentle Giant and again reminds me of some of the Italian progressive bands. A very impressive debut CD. Where do all these great Finnish band come from?????
For more information you can visit the Viima web site at: http://www.viima.fi.
Reviewed by Scott Heller