ALAMAAILMAN VASARATSYVÄSATAMAAN IKSUVASARAT
Fourth opus of Baistophe's Progressive Music Month, it may be argued that Alamaailman Vasarat are not really progressive which could lead to a long and sterile discussion as to what progressive music is. I think they are but you have every right to disagree with me...
Anyway, The avant-garde Finnish band Alamaailman Vasarat, which translates to "the Hammers of the Underworld" in English, create music influenced by Klezmer and other forms of European folk music and play it with the ferocity of a punk or metal act and the theatrical dimension of progressive rock. Abandoning major keys for the most part and guitars all together, the group performs on such instruments as a pump organ, saxophone, and distorted cello. Although the basic rhythms the band uses are conventional polka and bossa nova, by speeding them up and adding primal drumming, their intense music has been known to even inspire stage diving.
The attempt, for this compilation, was to try building something that would ressemble an actual album hence the unchronological tracklist, the short edits at the end of some tracks and the sound adjustments that had to be made so to create an harmonious whole. The title would translate something like "Deep Sea Hammers" (sorry if I mistreated the Finnish language, I had to use google translator) and the selection aims to be an imaginary soundtrack, it's up to you to create your "mental movie" but, just for information, mine consists in a journey in marine life with hammerhead sharks as the main character. I sincerely hope you'll like the work and the band and that it'll make you want to check more of their unique sound on either of their four albums (and to avoid at all coast their collaboration with Finnish folk singer Tuomari Nurmio which is just not good).
Enjoy and don't be shy, give me your opinion.
My ALAMAAILMAN VASARAT List1 - Käärmelautakunta (2003)
2 - Vasaraasia (2000)
3 - Mahaan (2007)
4 - Huuko Kolkko (2009)
5 - Kinaporin Kalifaatti [with Tuomari Nurmio] (2005)
4 comments:
Hey the title is translated into English something like: "To the deep harbour the hitting hammers." Cheers, Mary-Ann
S.F.P> thanks for this very interesting BAISTOPHE wasn't sure at first by track 2 i had a huge grin on my face.
This is what the internet is for discovering stange and interesting music, I feel it is like a soundtrack to my dreams and not just the good ones or as a soundtrack to a silent movie
thanks for you grat work this month Regards
The Old Fool
OMFG thank you for your amazing blog. There's a lot of stuff here that I've been lukewarm on but I don't think I'd ever have heard of this band without you, and they're freaking awesome!
Thank you!
Hay! That's all "Baistophe" is about so, you're welcome. :)
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