- Label: Self-Released.
- Year: 2007.
- Style: Acoustic Folk.
- Format: MCD.
- Note: Also available in MP3 format.
- Score: 87%
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Tonttu is the Finnish word for gnome. In Swedish he’s called tomte. Tonttu is also the Finnish title of a very famous Swedish poem by Viktor Rydberg, one of the finest moments in Swedish folklore literature actually, and ”Tonttu” is the title of this MCD, the second offering from one of the most promising of all Nordic acoustic folk acts to date. The reason why I started to discuss Viktor Rydberg and his poem is that the title track on this disc is a adaption of that particular one. It’s great fun to hear! I didn’t even know his works are so wide spread.
VALKYREND VARIETE’s version is a powerful one, with strummed acoustic guitar playing, heavy percussion, violin, cello and those lovely vocals I fell in love with already in their previous release (see separate review).
The band seems more mature this time, more secure. The obvious influences from the metal genres are less prominent. That was my first impression.
The second track is a gentle piano ballad, this time I don’t know anything about the lyrics but I love listening to them. Finland is so close to Sweden, still it seems to much further away than Denmark, Norway and Iceland due to their language that is one of a completely different branch. Why do I mumble about this? Don’t know. Just a note. Back to the track. Well, the part with the flutes, and also a little hello from the guitar is very fine. But seriously, it can’t be compared to what comes next. ”Vapaus” is a very short track, but I don’t mind playing it on repeat for an hour. Not at all.
It’s pretty simply built, soft guitars, atmospheric keyboards and some light percussion usage. Then, the vocalist kicks in, bringing the track to yet a different level. It’s really spellbinding. The melody is amazing. After two short verses, the cello takes over where the vocals left and if you usually are touched by gentle and dark folk music, you should have goosebumps all over by now. Play it again, discover new things then play it again... One of the top 10 songs of 2007, for sure, and I don’t even understand the lyrics! Applause!
And after ”Vapaus”, it’s over. Three tracks ain’t much, not even for a MCD, but these 15 minutes couldn’t have been better. I can’t wait to hear more.
Tracklist:
- Tonttu
- Jouluun Sydän Virttynyt
- Vapaus
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