Kemialliset Ystavat - Kellari Juniversumi
(Fonal)
The psychedelic sounds of Finland have taken several forms; this latest incarnation, the awkwardly titled, Kemialliset Ystavat, employ a loose, atmospheric approach. Using primarily acoustic instruments, this album sketches 17 short pieces of a hazy dissonance, sounding at times like NNCK's most drugged out moments. A similar sense of collective mysteriousness is present, as the woodsy sounds conjure a sense of improvised soul seeking. Melodies appear and dissipate, but the proceedings stay in a dark, earthy vein. The more structured moments, sometimes employing vocals, do nothing more than anchor the album in its cold geography. There are a bunch of faces and names in the artwork, which allows me to imagine an entire Scandinavian village trancing out together around a campfire, banging away on acoustic guitars and woodwinds in search of shadowy spirits. However, with the longest piece running just over 3 and 1/2 minutes, there is never time for Kemialliset Ystavat to really open up and achieve the mega-powerful mind-fuck I want from this record. Instead, the loose "draft" approach gives this record the feel of a more esoteric Tower Recordings. I can't wait to hear more from these guys and gals.
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