Track Listings (12) - Disc #1| All Artists: Varttina Title: Iki Members Wishing: 1 Total Copies: 0 Label: East Side Digital Release Date: 3/11/2003 Genres: Alternative Rock, Folk, International Music, Pop Styles: Indie & Lo-Fi, American Alternative, Europe, Scandinavia Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPCs: 021561607125, 4015698231724, 743219814524, 8712618404225, 884463141513 |
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Search - Varttina :: Iki
 | Varttina Iki Genres: Alternative Rock, Folk, International Music, Pop
Värttinä's previous album, Ilmatar, was runic, dark, and chillingly evocative, a masterpiece of latter-day trad-pop. Ever since, fans of this female-led Karelian ensemble have been eagerly anticipating their next... more » |
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Amazon.com Värttinä's previous album, Ilmatar, was runic, dark, and chillingly evocative, a masterpiece of latter-day trad-pop. Ever since, fans of this female-led Karelian ensemble have been eagerly anticipating their next effort while half-expecting a let-down. Well, the wait is over, and the follow-up, created in the wake of still more personnel changes, is surprisingly un-fussy, almost bar-band folkloric. The legendary women vocalists are now a trio instead of a quartet. They are heard solo and combined, backed by acoustic accordion, fiddles, flutes, guitars, drums, and kantele (Finland's zither-like national instrument,) the whole anchored by a simple, prominent bass. Their trademark speed-singing is sparingly deployed and the open-faced, limpid harmonies seldom become unsettling or shrill. The singers come across like a chance gathering of sharp-tongued, kindly village gossips on a sunny bench. They are nowhere near so occult or fate-driven as we've been led to believe--not in broad daylight, anyway. -- Christina Roden Similarly Requested CDs
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Member CD Reviews Beverly B. (baeb47) from INDEPENDENCE, MO Reviewed on 8/22/2006... Recorded in Helsinki, Finland in September 2002 by a delightful female trio. Check them out at www.varttina.com 0 of 1 member(s) found this review helpful.
CD ReviewsVarttina mellows out Brianna Neal | USA | 12/31/2003 (5 out of 5 stars) "Known for their barrages of strident, dissonant, rapid-fire folk lyrics set against a modern backup band, the Finnish group Varttinna takes a more laid back approach in this album, giving yet another dimension to their ever-developing style. The tone of "Iki", which translates as "the primal, eternal breath", is less frenetic than their early, folksy releases and less dark than their more recent CDs "Vihma" and "Ilmatar". Replacing these elements are approaches more evocative of modern electro-accoustic American folk music and even light jazz. The trio of female vocalists on "Iki" consists of staple Mari Kaasinen, veteran Susan Aho and newcomer Johanna Virtanen. Most of the arrangements are by multi-instrumentalists Anton Varilo and Janne Lappalainen, while the majority of the texts were penned by Kaasinen. "Iki" is actually a good overview of Varttina's different faces. Numbers like "Nahkaruoska", "Potran Korean" and "Vihi" are exemplary of their rowdy, folksy side, while "Tuulen Tunto" and "Sepan Poika" are gently and progressively contemporary. Other tracks, like "Maahinen Neito" and "Syllinen Syli, parts 1 and 2", show more of a world music influence, incorporating rhythms, harmonies and vocal dissonances reminiscent of Balkan and Middle Eastern traditions. For a look at the group's darker side, try the albums "Vihma" and "Ilmatar". If you like the gentler, jazzier numbers on "Iki", you may also enjoy the creative arrangements on the albums "Moon Run" and "Remembered Ways" by the American group Trapezoid." A GREAT WORK Brianna Neal | 12/10/2003 (5 out of 5 stars) "Since the first track to the last I saw (and off course listen)a perfect conclusion of these 20 years of work.They "pick up" all technics which have used since "Seleniko" to "Ilimatar", musical and vocal.In this album, you'll find a better sound,an excellent vocal work from every musician and singer.There's a perfect balance between kantele,bouzouki,cava,low whistle, percussion, accordion and voices...They use rhytmns from other albums like "Kokko",and "Ilimatar", but it doesn't sound like a "recycling work", sounds new, and preserves the finnish folk essence.Personally, I think that this album is absolutely brilliant,"wrapper", and strong."
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