| How come some artists seem to find new life and innovative ways in their work album after another? Take Nick Cave for example, embracing his rock'’n ’roll animal with his Grinderman after years of haunting piano ballads. Take Tom Waits, in his musical exploration deeper and deeper to the mystic world of losers, low-life characters, rhythms and sounds. Or Finland’s Ismo Alanko with his new band, a duo, Ismo Alanko & Teho. Their debut album Blanco Spirituals stands as a proof of its own.
The synergy of Alanko and the percussion instrument wizard Samuli ”Teho” Majamäki is not just evident on stage but also on the album. Blanco Spirituals seems to be all about contentual excellence. Their co-operation in Alanko’s earlier project Ismo Alanko Säätiö shows as confidence that makes the duo sound much bigger than they physically are. These two gentlemen are likely to be stronger than many bands greater in the number of members.
Alanko has a remarkably individual touch in composing: what makes the tracks on Blanco Spirituals sound new and unpredictable is the minimalism in how they are presented. The most delightful thing about this album is indeed the vast variety of styles that incredibly stems from no more than two people; a ruminative piece is followed by a fast-paced track, a beautiful weather is accompanied by a storm. These emotional scales frame occasionally even couplet-like lyrics that speak to the listener both in many ways.
Playing vibraphone, other mallet-instruments and the most explosive parts of the drum kit, Teho could easily eat whitestripes for breakfast. While this man plays, reservations and doubts do not exist. And Ismo Alanko, although nearly 50 years old, still seems to draw from some mystic, scintillating power. Together they form a band that one without a question wants to listen more to, now and in the future.
Having been a notable factor in the Finnish rock music scene since 1980, Ismo Alanko is no less than a living legend in his home country. Alanko has managed to sound fresh on all his albums without compromising his own personal style which makes him one of the most respected artists in Finland today.
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