Search - Jimi Tenor :: Utopian Dream

What if Harpo Marx had a Moog?

Geofredo | Montreal | 04/01/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What a sneaky album this is... first he'll lure you in with a cute little ditty such as "Moonfolks" and then Jimi will state in another selection "give me some fear 'cause I wanna feel afraid". This is yet another soul-electro experience from the wacky Finn with genuine abilities as a composer, instrumentalist and technician. A funny selection of material that nevertheless betrays profound sensibilities... From blissed-out beatless songs like "Gentle afternoon" to austere dub-tech like "Mammon", and great far-out ballads like "Better than ever" or "Paradise can wait", you'll have to meet him on his own turf this time 'round more than ever. I saw him play live in Summer 2001 and was convinced that indeed he embodies the qualities of the Stylistics, Werner Herzog, Harpo Marx and Roland Kirk, all in one tall, gangly package. And by the way, the Utopian Dream is a cautionary tale in the grand old sense, in which Jimi opts for disillusion rather than illusion. Like nothing else, quite."