Ultraaani Finland Vinyl & CDs

Review: Goats In A Hypnotic State is one of those deep, moving explorations of ambient soundscapes that smudges together ethereal drones, field recording, and mesmerising synth textures. The three-track work evokes a sense of surreal calm as delicate melodies and subtle rhythms build hypnotic atmospheres and each piece unfolds slowly, with layers of sound intertwining to create a vast, meditative space. The organic sounds of nature, such as distant goat calls and wind, ground the work, while the synthetic elements elevate its dreamlike quality. Overall there is no way you can hear this and not be invited into a tranquil, introspective world where time and thought dissolve into the music itself.

Review: Comprised of saxophonist Sami Pekkola, double bassist Eero Tikkanen, electric guitarist Topias Tiheasalo and drummer Veeti Hietala, a young talent steeped in the country's experimental tradition, Phardah are a fresh yet seasoned ensemble from Finland who merge free azz with a psychedelic edge. Their debut release captures the energy of their raw, collective musicianship. Recorded by Teemu Markkula of Death Hawks, the band channels an expansive and free-spirited sound that swings between intense improvisation and nuanced composition. From the opening moments, the tracks allow the music to breathe, and the group explores vast sonic landscapes, where Tiheasalo's intricate guitar work steers the flow, aided by the groovy, pulsing rhythm section. The material showcases Phardah's signature balance of abstraction and clarity. The music flows with organic ease, moving from frenetic bursts to meditative grooves. Side B in particular elevates this fluidity, as the band captures an otherworldly energy, blending improvisational chaos with deliberate structure. Markkula's mix enhances the sense of vast space in the recordings, allowing each instrument to be fully heard while maintaining the group's united, bold sound. Phardah's live energy, first ignited at the 2023 Odysseus Festival, is palpable, and their sound resonates deeply with the spirit of Free Jazz, evoking both a sense of chaos and catharsis. Their debut serves as a striking introduction to a band that thrives in the moment and pushes musical boundaries.

Review: The Ville Lahteenmaki Trio, formed in Trondheim in 2022, is a fresh jazz ensemble featuring young Finnish and Norwegian talents. Led by the innovative bass clarinetist Ville Lahteenmaki, this trio channels the spirit of American jazz legends from the 60s and 70s, blending energetic play, bold melodies, and intense improvisations that evoke the Dolphy-Murray-Mahall tradition. This reissued album showcases the trio's dynamic range and deep understanding of the genre. The opening track, 'Prelude,' sees Lahteenmaki's robust bass clarinet weaving through the frictional interplay between bassist Nicolas Leirtro and drummer Trym Saugstad Karlsen. This passage transitions into a swinging, bluesy feel, punctuated by a well-crafted bass solo. 'Shakti' features Lahteenmaki's rhythmic ingenuity and timbral exploration, creating a dense, fervent atmosphere that recalls the influence of John Coltrane and McCoy Tyner. The pace slows with 'Calling Alice,' a tribute to Alice Coltrane, where a repeated bass figure and rattling percussion create an aura of mysticism. The trio ventures into more complex territory with 'Mare Incognitum,' an uptempo piece in six, where Lahteenmaki's rapid-fire bass clarinet acrobatics take center stage, backed by Karlsen's imaginative drumming. The album closes with 'Best Wishes,' a contemplative piece that evokes Pharoah Sanders' spiritual explorations, ending the album on a quiet, introspective note. Lahteenmaki's trio boldly navigates the delicate balance between tradition and innovation, crafting a sound that is both daring and deeply engaging.

Review: Finnish guitarist, tech and visual artist Ville Valavuo's Commemoration Songs plays back like a diary scrawled in sound, traversing eight pieces shaped by disillusion, exhaustion and flickers of hope in a world driven by profit and hollow spectacle. Tracing through recordings made over three sessions in 2024, the record layers free jazz sax lines with soft-focus analogue synth and Rhodes motifs, as well as echo-soaked percussion and sinewy basslines. The record's title nods to a darker irony: honouring the architects of a world-system that survives by immanentising its own violence. As if to match the fact, Valavuo handles nearly everything himself, from tenor and alto sax to shakuhachi, clarinet, programming, and even the front cover layout.