BIO
How come some artists seem to find new life and innovative ways intheir work album after another? Take Nick Cave for example, embracinghis rock'’n ’roll animal with his Grinderman after years of hauntingpiano ballads. Take Tom Waits, in his musical exploration deeper anddeeper to the mystic world of losers, low-life characters, rhythms andsounds. Or Finland’s Ismo Alanko with his new band, a duo, Ismo Alanko& Teho. Their debut album Blanco Spirituals...
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BIO
How come some artists seem to find new life and innovative ways intheir work album after another? Take Nick Cave for example, embracinghis rock'’n ’roll animal with his Grinderman after years of hauntingpiano ballads. Take Tom Waits, in his musical exploration deeper anddeeper to the mystic world of losers, low-life characters, rhythms andsounds. Or Finland’s Ismo Alanko with his new band, a duo, Ismo Alanko& Teho. Their debut album Blanco Spirituals stands as a proof ofits own.
The synergy of Alanko and the percussion instrumentwizard Samuli ”Teho” Majamäki is not just evident on stage but also onthe album. Blanco Spirituals seems to be all about contentualexcellence. Their co-operation in Alanko’s earlier project Ismo AlankoSäätiö shows as confidence that makes the duo sound much bigger thanthey physically are. These two gentlemen are likely to be stronger thanmany bands greater in the number of members.
Alankohas a remarkably individual touch in composing: what makes the trackson Blanco Spirituals sound new and unpredictable is the minimalism inhow they are presented. The most delightful thing about this album isindeed the vast variety of styles that incredibly stems from no morethan two people; a ruminative piece is followed by a fast-paced track,a beautiful weather is accompanied by a storm. These emotional scalesframe occasionally even couplet-like lyrics that speak to the listenerboth in many ways.
Playing vibraphone, othermallet-instruments and the most explosive parts of the drum kit, Tehocould easily eat whitestripes for breakfast. While this man plays,reservations and doubts do not exist. And Ismo Alanko, although nearly50 years old, still seems to draw from some mystic, scintillatingpower. Together they form a band that one without a question wants tolisten more to, now and in the future.
Having been anotable factor in the Finnish rock music scene since 1980, Ismo Alankois no less than a living legend in his home country. Alanko has managedto sound fresh on all his albums without compromising his own personalstyle which makes him one of the most respected artists in Finlandtoday.
MEMBERS
Ismo Alanko - vocals, guitar
Teho Majamäki - percussions
Domestic
