[Kemialliset Ystävät|Kellari Juniversumi]圖騰崇拜，天外之音

Artist：Kemialliset Ystävät
Album：Kellari Juniversumi
Release Date：2002
Label：Fonal Records
Country：Finland
Genre： Electronic
Style： Abstract, Ambient

Tracklisting:

1		Puiden Sydämet Antavat Tahdin (2:23)
2		Kellari Juniversumi (2:48)
3		Taivas Ja Meri, Yhteen Sulautuneina (3:17)
4		Utuaurat (1:50)
5		Mustametsä (2:38)
6		...On Pieni Metsä (1:24)
7		Planeetta Kaukainen Muo Kutsuu (1:29)
8		Kuuntelin Kuinka Puut Kuiskivat (2:42)
9		Monien Kalojen Aalto (3:05)
10		Kuuma Tomu (3:32)
11		Amerikka (2:18)
12		Kummitushiiri (2:19)
13		Salainen Paikka (2:04)
14		Pallo (3:38)
15		Kuutarhassa (3:27)
16		Soihdun Tuhkaa (2:46)
17		Heijastuksia! Kaikuja! (5:10)

簡介。。。。。。

Probably one of the best known and most credible exports of Finland’s burgeoning free-psych scene, Jan Anderzén aka Kemialliset Ystävät (which means Chemical Friends) burst into relative popularity with this 2002 album, now reissued with a gorgeous book of artwork. After a slew of cassette, 7” and cdr releases, the wonderful people at Fonal saw fit to throw Mr. Anderzén’s work into public view and unsurprisingly it received universal acclaim. Taking cues from the American new-psych gods Jewelled Antler Collective (of whom Anderzén is a sometime member) this is free music at its very best; unpretentious compositions which retain an undeniable sense of irreverence and can be experimental without losing sight of listenability. All sorts of sounds are thrown into the mix – layer upon layer of analogue synth squelches, detuned guitars and other miscellaneous small instruments adding to the texture and wall-of-sound on this record. For fans of Fonal this record is an absolute must, an important stepping stone for the label and a hugely influential part of the modern weird-folk-psych scene.(from boomkat)

我的碎碎唸。。。。。。評價指數：8.4/10

他們的專輯有好多張，準備都聼過之後再寫。Kemialliset Ystävät的英文意思是Chemical Friends。這張發行于2002年，編號FR-21。封面好讚，買一張Fonal的CD真是無論從視覺上還是聽覺上都不會後悔。

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[Es|A Love Cycle]轉經、輪回、盼望

Artist：Es
Album：A Love Cycle
Release Date：2006
Label：Fonal Records
Country：Finland
Genre： Electronic
Style： Leftfield, Experimental, Ambient

Tracklisting:

1		Suuri Höyhen (7:07)
2		A Love Cycle (12:06)
3		Les Fleurs Sont Des Bonnes Auditrices (4:29)
		Vocals [Humming] - Elissa Määttänen
4		We Make Holes In The Heart To Break Universe Apart (13:19)
5		Twenty-Five Twenty-Five (3:03)
6		She Puts Out The Fire In Her Heart With Her Tears (11:54)

簡介。。。。。。

Sami Sänpäkkilä, owner and curator of the phenomenal Fonal label, has managed to attract a great deal of interest in his work over the last couple of years. Peaking with the frankly unmissable vinyl-only ‘Sateenkaarisuudelma’ album on Kraak, the Finnish musician drew people into his world of crackling vinyl, distant piano and half-sung Finnish nursery rhymes. ‘A Love Cycle’ was originally released in 2001 and is the second Es album, but to beef up this re-issue a little Sänpäkkilä has added an extra track, the gorgeous ‘Suuri Hoyhen’ which appeared on a Kraak compilation/sampler also in 2001. It’s been out of press for far too long now, and since interest had grown in Sänpäkkilä’s works significantly recently, it seems like the perfect time to fashion a reissue! Surprisingly given the dubious longevity of experimental/electronic music the disc still sounds as fresh as ever; the album was put together almost entirely using three cheap flea-market turntables and a pile of decaying vinyl, so Philip Jeck and Christian Marclay are obviously going to come in handy as reference points, but Sänpäkkilä injects his own personality into the noisy loops and crackle. His homespun aesthetic is as present here as on his choice of releases for Fonal, beautiful ethereal humming erupts over bassy rumbles and disconcerting static while distortion cracks and crumbles overhead. I suppose many would describe Es as ‘ambient’ music, but there is more going on here than may at first reveal itself, the layers need peeling away slowly on repeated listens before you achieve maximum enjoyment. Within these loops rest hidden glimpses of love, love for music, for art, for the process itself, and that’s what makes Sami Sänpäkkilä’s work just so damn involving. A huge recommendation and an essential part of the Fonal catalogue.

我的碎碎唸。。。。。。評價指數：8.2/10

重復，不斷地重復。輪回，永恒地輪回。A Love Cycle就在這樣的重復中進行，但是我對它卻比對Flick更加喜愛。它是一個循環、一個周而復始的生命。尤其是Les Fleurs Sont Des Bonnes Auditrices深邃的鋼琴和Elissa Määttänen的輕輕哼唱交織的時候，我仿佛觸摸到了歷史與希望。這個女子的聲音純淨、自然，曾多次在Es的唱片中出現，還有就是我很喜歡其中那感覺非常Lo-fi的老式錄音帶的沙沙聲。五年前的Fonal曾發行過這張唱片，06年的這張是再版，區別就是多了一個bonus track，也就是第一曲Suuri Höyhen。

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[ISLAJA|Palaa Aurinkoon]漂泊，屍骨未寒

Artist：Islaja
Album：Palaa Aurinkoon
Release Date：2005-01-20
Label：Fonal Records
Country：Finland
Genre：Electronic, Rock
Style： Folk Rock, Abstract, Experimental

Tracklisting:

1		Laivat Saapuu
2		Rohkaisulaulu
3		Uni pöllönä Olemisesta
4		Palaa Aurinkoon
5		Haaveilija
6		Senkun Tanssitaan
7		Sateen Tullessa
8		Rukki
9		Tule Puutarhaan
10		Vaeltajan Laulu
11		Rukous

簡介。。。。。。

Islaja’s (Merja Kokkonen) second album ‘Palaa Aurinkoon’. This album is something of a marvel in the new folk scene, whereas one might have become accustomed to last years glut of folk releases with high profile albums from Devandra Banhart, Animal Collective and Vashti Bunyan to name but a few; Islaja possesses something else entirely. Possibly closer to the untrained free-folk of Jandek (minus the howling) than the twee English lilt of Vashti or Bolanisms of Devandra, Merja conjures up a fairytale outsider realm where gingerbread men run faster and faster and lonely witches lie in wait for over-adventurous children. Each song is moulded lovingly with delicate guitar strums, tumbling glockenspiels and Merja’s own fragile, breathy vocals. On the first listen the record could be compared to a drowsy Cocorosie or a snowbound Colleen, but Islaja is far deeper than either of these artists, grabbing you from the inside and taking control of your psyche. A perfect accompaniment to these cold winter nights, sitting by the fire with a cup of tea and a thick hardback book of Grim fairy tales, ‘Palaa Aurinkoon’ has a mythical beauty which is not forgotten easily. This comes as a huge recommendation and is another essential release on the incredible Fonal label.（from boomkat）

我的碎碎唸。。。。。。評價指數：8.8/10

這陣子瘋狂迷戀芬蘭Free Folk，導火索就是Islaja這張專輯。從Islaja蔓延到Lau Nau，到Kuupuu，以後一定還會有更多。這三個小丫頭已經把我搞得神魂顛倒，更令我欣喜的是Hertta Lussu Ässä的存在。所謂的Hertta Lussu Ässä就是，Hertta Lussu Ässä=Islaja + Kuupuu + Lau Nau。Islaja是三人中能夠找到資料最多，能夠找到專輯最多的。先說這張，因爲我先聼的是這張。

她，名字是Merja Kokkonen。很長，我也不知道怎麽讀，但願有那麽一天會知道。有人把她稱作acid-folk版的Björk、Syd Barrett，也拿她和Nico作比較.但設若是我，我是不喜歡比較的，尤其不喜歡被別人成爲某某版的誰誰誰。我想她也不會很喜歡的，但是這在某些方面也表明她的音樂也越來越受到大家的關注和喜愛。她具備符合芬蘭的民族氣質，以及獨特的個人氣質。所以個人認爲不適合相提並論。

Islaja的名字可能來自于某個被遺忘的小島，也可能來自于被人們忘卻了的寓言中的揮舞寶劍的勇敢女英雄。追溯這些對於這個有著滿腹音樂才華的實實在在的Islaja卻是顯得多麽得虛無縹緲，多麽沒有意義。

Palaa Aurinkoon是她的第二張專輯，我認爲這張專輯在芬蘭民族場景的呈現上是個極品，Merja魔術般地運用著各種樂器似乎向我們講述著一個悲切的神話傳説。如果我將來拍一部電影的我想我一定會用她的音樂。對於歌詞我什麽也聼不懂，甚至連歌名都看不懂，因爲它全部是芬蘭語。但對於有力量有深度的音樂我的耳朵是能夠敏銳辨認的。也許正是因爲我們根本不懂的語言，我們才更會去關注，或者說去猜測音樂的内在精神，它的意境存在。

初聼 Islaja的時候，我想不是像我這種就喜歡這樣的另類、psychedelic聲音的人，會不習慣，甚至不喜歡。你可能會覺得太冷或者太詭異。但是她遠比那些平庸的、寡然無味的Indie女聲和Folk女聲深刻地多，因爲她有捕捉聽者内心和控制聽者靈魂的能力與力量。Laivat saapuu中丁丁噹噹本應該是清脆可愛的聲響，因爲在Islaja的音樂裏而顯得那麽寂寞、憂傷、無可奈何，卻比清脆可愛更具深度。這是Islaja的魔力。Rukki中 鬼魅地重復著“哎哦”卻絕不枯燥。Rukous的手風琴和火車汽笛聲響起，預示著一部歐洲的老電影的開場，Islaja 和一個男性聲音一同地為聽者吟唱著簡單又震懾人心的淒楚的愛情故事（個人現在很喜歡手風琴這種充滿東歐韻味的樂器）。Palaa aurinkoon中非常民族化的芬蘭傳統的鼓樂，加上笛聲和手風琴，作爲貫穿全曲的中心，強烈，震撼，如同冰雹大張旗鼓地砸向你，你卻有一種暢快淋漓的感覺。鋼琴開始簡單地旁敲側擊，使曲子在配器上層次更加豐富。難以分辨遠近的緊張氣氛中，Islaja那聼起來有些虛弱得帶著呼吸的聲音彌漫。每個 track都值得一提，我很難對自己更喜歡哪個做出取捨。

她的音樂確實冷，毋庸置疑的冷，可能和她生活在斯堪的納維亞地區有些關係。音符緩緩地延伸開來，變得越來越豐富。我會把它想象成，Islaja對著深秋即將凝滯的大河演唱的祭奠曲或者哀思曲。也許是祭奠流逝的年華，或者是遠去的愛情。古老的木質風琴的聲音悲壯異常。

一個寒冷冬夜的悲涼演唱，也許靜靜地凝望窗外飄落的雪花和悄悄凝結的冰淩的時候，才會意識到這個完美陪伴的存在。我期待著這樣的冬日快些到來，或者全當這是個約定。附：Islaja的video：Rohkaisulaulu
http://www.viddler.com/explore/Ms_Valerie/videos/224/

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[Es|Kaikkeuden Kauneus Ja Käsittämättömyys]史詩，我穿越了時空

Artist：ES
Album：Kaikkeuden Kauneus Ja Käsittämättömyys
Release Date：2004-04-01
Label：Fonal Records
Country：Finland
Genre： Electronic
Style： Modern Classical, Experimental

Tracklisting:

1		Surullisille Onnettomille
		Vocals - Noora Tommila
2		Hamuavia
3		Pehmea Iho
		Vocals - Elissa Määttänen
4		Huumaavia Ikuisuus
		Violin - Laura Jaatinen
5		Puutarhaan Laskeutuu Höyhen
		Vocals - Elissa Määttänen
6		Juhlat
7		Sädekellot
8		Sadepäivät
		Vocals - Noora Tommila
9		Aavehuminaa (Katjalle)
		Vocals - Elissa Määttänen , Varpu Lehtomäki
10		Kaikkeuden Kauneus Ja Käsittämättömyys
		Vocals - Ville Leinonen

簡介。。。。。。

And finally we have secured copies of the most recent Es cd! A different beast from the spiritual and improvised stylings of the recent (vinyl-only) Sateenkaarisuudelma, this record is much more composed and more succinct - with ten gorgeous slices of hissing, crackling vinyl samples, small instruments, decrepit synthesizers, broken toys and vocals making up an album which flows perfectly. The effortless melodies (probably the most uplifting of the entire Fonal catalogue) and haunting vocals take you into an ethereal world of spirits and thick mist lulling you into its alluring trance. The strongest comparison to make here would be to the work of Philip Jeck, as it bears only a slight resemblance to the outsider folk we have come to love the Fonal label for, yet the degraded textures and subtle cinematics also bring to mind the work of William Basinski or Deaf Center. An absolutely essential album on all counts, grab this without any further ado (and don't worry about trying to pronounce the title, we can't either!).（from boomkat）

ES (stands for Experimental Songcycles) is the solo project of musician and film-maker Sami Sänpäkkilä. Sänpäkkilä is also the founder of Fonal Records, an independent label based in Tampere, Finland. Visit www.escycle.com to read more about ES, watch movies and listen to music samples.

我的碎碎唸。。。。。。評價指數：8.7/10

芬蘭音樂總是能夠讓我為之震顫，我真的太佩服、太崇拜Sami Sänpäkkilä了。自己做音樂、拍電影的同時，還能創建Fonal這個這麽棒的音樂厰牌。我愛死這個厰牌了！！！愛死芬蘭民謠了！！！那種神秘、清冷的氣質，令我神魂顛倒，就像在聼Pehmea Iho的時候，我突然感覺自己飄忽得身輕如燕，每一毛孔都為之噴張，我忘記了周圍，忘記了自我，忘記了一切。

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[Kiila|Heartcore]可怕的國際主義滲透，hoho

Artist：Kiila
Album：Heartcore
Release Date：2001
Label：Fonal Records
Country：Finland
Genre： Electronic, Rock
Style： Experimental, Ambient

Tracklisting:

1		Contemporaries (4:33)
2		Fireburnfoot (2:38)
		Piano [Piano Module], Vocals - Hanna Lehto
3		Holy Melancoly (6:09)
		Drums - Juri Puhakka
4		Set The Storm Aside (1:51)
5		Verbranntes Land (6:29)
		Guitar, Bass - Juri Puhakka
6		Heartcore (1:09)
7		She's Too Good (4:40)
		Guitar - Juri Puhakka
8		Crystal Fields (6:21)
9		Heartflowers (5:58)

簡介。。。。。。

SHOCK! HORROR! Fonal record in English language shock! Quick, somebody call the Daily Mail, I think we have a scoop. Sadly, ‘Heartcore’ was released a fair few years ago and this is probably old news, but damn it’s important to us. Their debut album, ‘Heartcore’ introduced Finnish folk/rock/pop act Kiila to the world and set them on their merry journey to, errr, worldwide acclaim. Ish. Recorded by Fonal boss and musician Sami Sänpäkkilä (aka Es) the album sounds something like a cross between prog/folk demons Comus, The BBC Radiophonic Workshop and Captain Beefheart – avoiding the pitfalls which might accompany such an ambitious venture. Although not as accomplished as it’s epic followup, ‘Heartcore’ is still a hugely enjoyable listening experience, being varied and interesting throughout, with two tracks in the middle pointing us closer to Wolf Eyes then Nick Drake… a surprise and a most welcome one I must say. Housed in absolutely gorgeous artwork inked by none other than Jan Anderzen of Kemialliset Ystävät fame this is another release you’re going to want to throw at your ever-expanding Fonal collection.(from Boomkat)

我的碎碎唸。。。。。。評價指數：8.3/10

Kiila的一張英語專輯，2001年發行于Fonal，比上一篇blog那張早好多年。不知道爲什麽，芬蘭folk一用英語演唱，總會讓我產生些排斥的感覺，就像Chamellows的Rat Hearts，而且曲風也變得有些國際化的電子，還有點玩節奏似的嘻皮。好聽還是好聽的，但就是覺得味兒有那麽些不對。也許是我多慮了，也許這張專輯裏Kiila本來就沒有在追求民族化的東西。

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[Kiila|Silmät Sulkaset]不知不覺中的流淌

Artist：Kiila
Album：Silmät Sulkaset
Release Date：2004-04-15
Label：Fonal Records
Country：Finland
Genre： Electronic
Style： Leftfield, Modern Classical

Tracklisting:

1		Kelmejä (5:03)
2		Auringonlunta (4:18)
3		Kiviä Ja Taivasta (3:39)
4		Kateet Linnut (5:36)
5		Tapanina Aukesi Vuori (5:03)
6		Minä-laulu (2:22)
7		Väsäilyn Luostari (5:26)
8		Pysähtyneet Planeetat (5:09)

簡介。。。。。。

By now you must be pretty bored with us banging on about the Fonal back catalogue! This week it’s a release from Finnish band Kiila that’s hitting the spot; ‘Silmät Sulkaset’ is a glowing triumph, even for Fonal’s bubbling catalogue of delights. Taking little floating shards of post rock (not too much mind, wouldn’t want to lose the jaunty originality), drinking from the waters of folk and grazing in the green pastures of pop we end up with an album that’s easy to listen to but damned hard to define. Residing somewhere inbetween Sigur Ros, Joanna Newsom, The Doors and The Animal Collective (wherever it is that leaves us) this is an album filled with mystery. With an unrivalled scope, production values that unlike most of this corner of the music scene are anything but lo-fi and an unrivalled sense of energy, Kiila are a hugely essential piece of the Fonal jigsaw puzzle. If you have been kicked out of apathy by any of the other lovely Fonal releases which have appeared out of the musical ether recently then you should really give Kiila’s strange visions a musical home...

Kiila is a semi-acoustic psychedelic folk-pop which was originally formed around 1997 by two friends, Niko-Matti and Sami. In the course of three years, five friends of the group joined the band. Juho Kaitajärvi, Markus Mäki, Laura Naukkarinen (aka Lau Nau), Juri Puhakka and Sami Rouhento all brought many influences with them. "The language of the songs has reverted back to Finnish, and the human voices rest on a warm texture of sounds from an array of acoustic and electronic instruments. Carefully arranged songs alternate with those improvised on the spot, all bearing the mark of a handcrafted article." (Sami - album notes)

我的碎碎唸。。。。。。評價指數：8.6/10

又是來自Fonal，又是一張很棒的芬蘭民謠，而且Kiila裏有Lau Nau。真是好啊。很好聽，帶著神秘與迷幻。整張專輯在不知不覺中就聼完了，于是一遍又一遍不厭其煩地聼著。。。

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[Paavoharju|Yhä Hämärää]赫爾辛基夜鶯傳説

Artist：Paavoharju
Album：Yhä Hämärää
Release Date：2005-07
Label：Fonal Records
Country：Finland
Genre： Electronic
Style： Experimental, Ambient

Tracklisting:

1		Ikuisuuden Maailma (5:02)
2		Valo Tihkuu Kaiken Läpi (4:01)
3		Kuu Lohduttaa Huolestuneita (3:49)
4		Syvyys (2:51)
5		Puhuri (3:13)
6		Ilmaa Virtaa (2:48)
7		Aamuauringon Tuntuinen (3:57)
8		Vitivalkoinen (1:39)
9		Kuljin Kauas (4:02)
10		On Yhä Hämärää (3:18)
11		Musta Katu (3:55)

簡介。。。。。。

And so it finally arrives on the shores of dear old Blighty. After weeks of whispers and nudges from the most highly esteemed of sources, one of 2005s most talked about albums is with us, and oh goodness has it been worth the wait! Undoubtedly my favourite release of last year (by a long way I might add) this album really does have something for everyone. Created by a band of born-again Christians in rural Finland, sung in Finnish and with a title that translated means ‘Continuously Dark’ (a not-so-subtle reminder of the Finnish seasonal conditions), one may feel daunted by the challenge of such a record. But oh how wrong these preconceptions can be, when hidden inside the beautifully odd packaging is an album of such perfect outsider pop it’s hard to imagine how it arrived on this planet. Flecked with traces of Bollywood soundtracks, folk, polka, 8-bit chiptunes and that all important Finnish psychedelia - this is a near impossible blend of styles which is pulled off in such a way that makes it purely irresistible to the ear. This is the album Ariel Pink wished he could produce, the album that sent Brian Wilson over the edge, the promised collision of worldwide styles that keeps evading every artist as they suddenly qualify for arts funding. It’s easy to point the finger of influence at Paavoharju but impossible to name peers, they are a band which truly stands alone. Maybe it’s due to their location that they have managed to soak up 50 years of pop music and come out with something that sounds so utterly alien. Yet they have been pigeonholed in the burgeoning Finnish free-folk/psych scene and still sound nothing like Islaja, Es, Lau Nau, Kemialliset Ystävät et al. Whatever the cause this is a magical and marvellous achievement, a record which will stay with us for years to come regardless of fad or fashion. As an introduction to the unmissable Fonal catalogue which will be appearing on Boomkat over the coming weeks this just couldn’t be better; so watch out, there’s a hell of a lot more where this came from. Essential purchase. (from boomkat)

我的碎碎唸。。。。。。評價指數：8.9/10
我喜歡芬蘭民謠，喜歡Paavoharju，喜歡Fonal。熟悉我的人一定熟悉這張專輯的封面，因爲我的很多網絡頭像都用的是這個小姑娘。個人覺得她長得很像自己：）Fonal的唱片幾乎每一張一開始就在視覺上給聽者以美的享受，會產生一種強烈的聆聽欲望。當然，音樂也是絕對夠震撼人心的，真是好聽，好聽得令人如痴如醉，令人無所適從，好像步入童話中仙境般的感覺。喜歡，嚴重推薦~

這張專輯是Paavoharju在Fonal發行的唯一一張專輯，很有水準。後來又發行了一張EP，名叫Tuote-akatemia / Unien Savonlinna EP，有一部分歌曲實際上是來自于Yhä Hämärää。
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[Islaja|Ulual Yyy]我迷戀的韻律

Artist：Islaja
Album：Ulual Yyy
Release Date：2007
Label：Fonal Records
Country：Finland
Genre： Rock
Style： Folk Rock, Acoustic, Experimental

Tracklisting:

A1		Kutsukaa Sydäntä (2:12)
A2		Sydänten Ahmija (3:24)
A3		Pete P (2:54)
		Drums - Arwi Lind
A4		Laulu Jo Menneestä (3:39)
A5		Pysähtyneet Planeetat (3:48)
B1		Muusimaa (4:20)
B2		Varjokuvastin (2:12)
		Vocals - Jukka Räisänen
B3		Muukalais-Silmä (4:50)
B4		Suru Ei (8:30)
		Synthesizer [New Age] - Jukka Räisänen

簡介。。。。。。

Islaja or Merja Kokkonen, is a singer/songwriter from Finland. She is also a member of free improv and psych folk bands Avarus, Kemialliset Ystävät, and the trio Hertta Lussu Ässä.She has been compared to an acid-folk version of Björk, Syd Barrett, and to Nico.Her music is notably psychedelic and very intimate using a vast Complex variety of instruments.

Islaja might well be a forgotten islet somewehere or a name of courageous sword swinging heroine in a forgotten fable. For one, Islaja is a certain young woman that has sang and played an album full of heart-rending intimate music. Half a year of quietly working in her homestudio brought about a cluster of transcendental tunes that are now being released as an album called Meritie.

One song Islaja whispered in a fever and another with an oriental monkey. At times it is impossible to tell where the sounds are coming from. The variety of instruments is vast, but all have their space and strong belief in the power of individual sounds can be heard. Islaja has exceptional sense of harmony that alone can make the album a magical listening experience.

The voice of Islaja sounds bravely over the screaming crazed sea-gulls. It is stunningly honest. This is a great victory in these times of sadness.

我的碎碎唸。。。。。。評價指數：8.5/10
Islaja是我聼芬蘭民謠認識的第一個樂手，我非常喜歡，特別喜歡這種冷艷妖異的音樂。終于遇見了，比bjork更純粹的，更清冷的。現在已成爲我的最愛。以前寫過一篇，現在懶得寫了，而且也不如人家寫得好，直接轉過來了。

從第一首歌Kutsukaa sydäntä響起，就已經意識到Merja Kokkonen的歌聲最適合留在赫爾辛基的森林裡。無論是幾年前的Free Folk、Weird Folk，亦或是重返六、七Ｏ年代的Psychedelic Folk，今天在這裡將它統稱為Finnish Forest Folk會更有說服力。如果三年前的「Meritie」是一張童心未泯的作品，今天聽「Ulual Yyy」顯然Merja Kokkonen已蛻變為成熟女子；歌聲中多了一份滄桑、樂音中也瀰漫著一股陰鬱森林裡的詭譎之氣。僅管如此，再見到Islaja時，還是不忘讚許 Merja Kokkonen的美麗；如果不是她，Islaja是何其地令人望而卻步呢。

當漫長的旅途上，夢境與現實交疊糾結的景象不斷浮於腦海，Islaja說故事的本領再次引領我們走進童話故事中神秘的後花園，彷彿置身於霍格華茲那充滿魔幻法力的地方。在Islaja的第三張專輯「Ulual Yyy」裡頭，是顯而易見的迷幻歌謠(Psych Folk)搭配上復古合成樂(fuzzy synthesizer)的斑斕色澤；是探討生命凋零與內心腐蝕灰暗的一面。Merja Kokkonen反常的冷靜與妖異，經常能直逼Nico與Björk。而她寫的歌，就像是刻上一道道的傷痕，不會經時間的沖刷而消逝；也像是一首首的詩， 卻讀來不易。脫去「Meritie」光怪陸離的奇異聲效，「Ulual Yyy」著重大量民謠器樂的編排，Merja Kokkonen的歌聲更似在樹林間搖曳的陰影。她的歌聲猶如貓語，時而撒嬌、時而有著刺人的鋒利；再次聽見，腦海裡浮現的，仍然是這個印象。（來自http://blog.roodo.com/boyethan/archives/3006317.html ）
去豆瓣上看看。。。。。。
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[Chamellows|Rat Hearts]時光匣子

Artist：Chamellows
Album：Rat Hearts
Release Date：2006
Label：Fonal Records
Country：Finland
Genre： Rock
Style： Folk Rock, Experimental

Tracklisting:

1		Universal Goodwill (2:21)
2		Siggur (3:02)
3		End Of All Fear (1:27)
4		San Diego Rat Heart (2:07)
5		Satunkaari-James (0:52)
6		Horsepuke Carpark Snow-White (2:28)
7		Summerfun (3:26)
8		Week End (2:36)
9		Nepalm (3:02)
10		Backyard Stardust (2:27)
11		Rooftops (1:50)
12		Flash Light Beat Heart (1:52)
13		Snaks Whistle Boat (3:19)
14		I´m Talking (2:59)
15		Idiot Light (0:19)
16		New Age Manifest (1:54)

簡介。。。。。。

Chamellows (which means ‘Sleeping Bags’ in case you were wondering…) is the collaborative project of Laura Naukkarinen (better known as Lau Nau) and the visual artist Mikko Kuorinki. Those of you who know Naukkarinen’s work for American label Locust will no doubt already be fidgeting with anticipation, ‘Kuutarha’ her debut album, is widely accepted as being the holy grail of Finnish folk music (Sami Sanpakkila of Fonal referenced it as one of his top Finnish records of all time!). This anthology of songs is something of an ‘early works’ collection, with some tracks dating back ten years, grabbing odd tunes from limited 7”s and long forgotten gems which were no doubt gathering dust and mould on an old 4-track tape. At no point however do I get the feeling when listening to ‘Rat Hearts’ that the material has dated, maybe that’s because it possesses that creepy Finish charm we’ve all fallen in love with in the last couple of years, but it wouldn’t surprise me if this had been recorded ten days ago, let alone ten years. Of course as we’ve heard with so many Fonal releases now, the duo manage somehow to combine styles as if they are totally unaware of current musical practices, blending elements of punk and new wave with the overriding sound of freak-folk you might associate with Fonal’s poster-girl Islaja. It’s not for the faint hearted of course – but tracks like ‘Siggur’ sounds like it could almost be a pop song playing on a broken transistor radio piped into 1974 and ‘Summerfun’ sounds like it really should have been a kids TV theme in the mid 1980s. All this pop excess is as always interspersed with improvised insanity; the Kemialliset Ystävät -lite synth/guitar schizophrenia of ‘Horsepuke Carpark Snow-white’ or ‘Flash Light Beat Heart’ but that’s what makes Fonal so damned attractive isn’t it? The uncompromising attitude, the ability to make pop records sound so peculiar and the fact they don’t seem to mind babbling away in that beautiful alien language, unaware that most of their listeners can’t understand a word. ‘Rat Hearts’ is a rewarding and challenging experience and that’s the only way I can explain it – long live Fonal!

我的碎碎唸。。。。。。評價指數：8.0/10

Chamellows("睡袋"的意思)是Lau Nau和視覺藝術傢Mikko Kuorinki共同的組合。我 想喜歡Kuutarha的人一定會毫不猶豫地找來Rat Hearts聼一聼。但是，如果與Kuutarha相比較的話，我會說我更喜歡那張在美國厰牌Locust發行的CD，而不是這張發行于芬蘭著名厰牌 Fonal的專輯。我覺得有點諷刺的是出色的芬蘭民謠竟然出產于美國厰牌，而這張出自正宗芬蘭音樂厰牌的專輯竟然是用英語演唱，而且風格完全脫離了芬蘭的 清冷氣質，有一些英倫、一些嬉皮、一些爵士，總之顯得有些不倫不類。

Kuutarha是芬蘭民謠中的優秀作品，連Sami Sanpakkila（ES）也把它視作非常重要的芬蘭音樂CD。這張Rat Hearts是一些早期作品的合集，有幾個track的歷史甚至能追溯到十年前，我們可以想象出曾經使用的老錄音帶，然而Rat Hearts曲風卻不Lo-fi。也許由於這個時間原因，我們似乎能夠理解，也不會感到非常驚訝了。Siggur一副流行歌曲的調調，或者還是叫它流行民 謠好了。像一個破舊的電晶體radio發出的聲音，倒是頗有點上世紀七十年代的味道。更令我冒汗的是Summerfun，簡直像80年代的兒童電視節目， 開頭一個美國人的説唱，甚至讓我懷疑是不是自己下載錯了。

Rat Hearts還是好聽的，如果你僅僅把它當作懷舊版獨立女聲的話。Fonal貌似完全不在乎音樂的時代演變，喜歡以有些怪異的民謠作爲主綫，混入punk、new wave等等其他一些元素，讓人聯想起Fonal的招牌女歌手Islaja。Rat Hearts中所 有流行元素的運用散步著即興演奏的瘋狂，Lau Nau似乎在展示著對流行音樂、肥皂文化不妥協的態度，甚至是反諷的初衷，不知道Kemialliset Ystävät（芬蘭一個著名的另類民謠團體）在Horsepuke Carpark Snow-white和Flash Light Beat Heart中有點好似精神分裂一樣的助陣演奏是否能證明這點。

對於Rat Hearts的過於苛刻，大概全是由於對Kuutarha的摯愛。但也因爲對Fonal的喜愛，我願意將Rat Hearts解釋為充滿著向經驗主義挑戰的勇氣。專輯的封面封底很可愛，80年代的影像，似乎讓我們又看到了逐漸遠去的童年。
去豆瓣上看看。。。。。。