the submersible dirigible

HARMAA LAGUUNI is psych free-folk composed inside an iron-lung OR scandinavian bare-bones communal folk enhanced with exoskeleton.

Even before the release of their untitled late-2007 comeback spectacular, Kemialliset Ystävät had secured a place in outsider music history, recognized as one of the Finnish folk invasion’s most creative and prolific pioneers.  Jan Anderzén’s characteristic shambolic free-folk helped define the genre, and served as inspiration for countless artists within the larger (commercially at least) freak-folk movement.  Despite a dependable musical formula, last year’s untitled release — KY’s first in years — was a surprising departure from their established sound, the new album sounding like a seamless blend of the group’s familiar communal acoustics with experimental electronics in the spirit of early-electronic and musique concrète composers like Pierre Henry or Tod Dockstader.  Harmaa Laguuni — originally released as supplemental tour material –  continues Kemialliset Ystävät’s ambitious fusion with electronics.

‘Tervehdys Roskasakki‘ — Harmaa Laguuni’s opener — epitomizes this renewed focus on electronics;the track opens with wispy oscillator vocal-warmups, sounding like rubbery vocoder do-re-mee-fah-soh-lah-tee-’dohs.  Discernable vocoder vocalizations and a soft-focus synth organ build naturally from the opener’s breezy introduction, joining Kemialliset’s familiar hardly-tuned stringed instruments in short order, developing into an otherwordly, 21st century free-folk.  ‘Menneisyyden Tulvaisuudessa‘ provides another stunning example of the album’s abundant electric-tribalism, a simple pairing of a solitary oscillator and an acoustic ewe-style drum rhythm, like an aural précis of the group’s new approach.  As expected from Kemialliset Ystävät, experimentation and improvisation abounds here, only enhanced by the deeper lineup of noise makers.  ‘Synti Muissa Maailmoissa’ and ‘Synti Muissa Maailmoissa’ bear some resemblance to the self-titled’s edgier offerings — ‘Älyvaahtoa’ (youtube) for example, or the catchy ‘Superhimmeli’ (mp3).

New KYY featuring performances from quite a few of our favorite Finnish noisemakers, including members of Avarus, Kiila and Es. Also - Tom + Christina of Charlambidies guest! All exclusive tracks, this was released for Kemialliset Ystävät’s 2008 USA tour. LIMITED tour-only release…and NOT available in stores! Eat up. Fast. — Secret Eye

Harmaa Laguuni is simply extraordinary.  Considering the cd is still available for order at Secret Eye for only $12 (I think that’s around 43 pence in the UK, at the going conversion rate), I’d consider this release nearly essential listening.

Kemialliset Ystävät shreds (Sami Sänpäkkilä on Vimeo).

also: still working on some coherent, identifiable, and useful review format, so things will likely continue to change here.  I do like to provide a quick summary take on the album up top, a reaction to my own tendency to quickly skim through my rss subscriptions, looking for items of interest.  I find targeted summaries can be useful way of introducing content, and hope others will as well.