There’s something magical and transcendent about the relatively nascent ‘New Weird Finland’ movement (or ‘Finnish freak-folk,’ or whatever other inane designation you prefer). Es, the recording name of Fonal Records head Sami Sänpäkkilä, continues to demonstrate this strange mysticism on Kesämaan Lapset. Translated as “Children of the Summerland,” Es’ latest pays homage to Finnish artist Pekka Streng’s album Kesämaa (“Summerland”), capturing the essence of summer through the innocent eyes of a child.
“Ennen Oli Huonommin” opens with a sputtering synthesizer at a constantly modulating rate of oscillation. While most of the synths employed in the music of likeminded cohorts Paavoharju or Kemialliset Ystävät are kitschy and vintage Casios, what’s used here is clearly a high-end instrument. Sänpäkkilä doesn’t eschew cheap synths — in fact, he uses some later in the album — but beginning the album with complex tinkering suggests that, although Sami has grown up and gained experience (and a bigger budget), his sense of wonder and excitement toward experimentation has only increased with time. As the wet sounds grow more erratic, organic chimes and a distant choir join in, and the chaos coalesces into something ethereal and even serene by the song’s end.
The following track, "Kesä Ja Hymyilevät Huulet," happens to be the most forgettable; with Sänpäkkilä’s monotonous vocal melody stumbling around the collision of several Casio keyboards for a few minutes, it serves best as a sort of palate cleanser before “Säteet Sun Sielusta,” which continues the optimistic tone of the opening song. This track finds Sänpäkkilä fixated on a single droning chord, layering fluttering piano atop several synthesizer tracks for about 12 minutes. With rich, vibrant textures and burbling synth flourishes, Es simulates light diffusing through water, as seen while submersed. On the subsequent title track, Sänpäkkilä sings briefly, before embarking on an expansive 21-minute journey to the sea. Despite the daunting length, the song unfolds with careful pacing and offers a meditative rest in the middle. All instrumentation vanishes, and the sound of waves lapping at the shore feels at once calming and isolating. The traveler picks himself up after the brief respite, and an inviting chord progression leads him back home again.
Just as the two boys depicted on the album’s cover seem completely innocent standing against the dark tree line behind them, Es’ latest release explores positive recollections of childhood while hinting at an ominous presence lurking in the distance.
1. Ennen Oli Huonommin
2. Kesä Ja Hymyilevät Huulet
3. Säteet Sun Sielusta
4. Kesämaan Lapset
5. Haamut Sun Sydämestä
More about: Es
