Record Reviews

WIGWAM / TAIVAANVUOHI ~ POP LIISA VOL. 03 & VOL. 04 SVART 006 (Barcode: 6430050665692) ~ FINLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1973 Released: 2016 By the time this live broadcast was captured on tape WigwamFind albums by this artist, the most celebrated Finnish Fusion / Prog Supergroup, already released three seminal albums and were about to release their fourth album "BeingFind albums with this title" recorded in the months preceding this show. The lineup was steady since the second album when the new bassist Pekka PohjolaFind albums by this artist joined vocalist / organist Jukka GustavsonFind albums by this artist, British expatriate vocalist / pianist Jim PembrokeFind albums by this artist and drummer Ronnie OsterbergFind albums by this artist. Following the release of the third album "FairyportFind albums with this title" Pohjola released his phenomenal debut album "Pihkasilma KaarnakorvaFind albums with this title" and Pembroke released his debut album "Wicked IvoryFind albums with this title", both in 1972 on LoveFind albums on this label Records. "Being" was to be the last studio album by this "classic" Wigwam lineup. The group performs five pieces: a short intro (cover of a John LennonFind albums by this artist song), one piece from Pohjola´s debut composed by him, one song from the forthcoming "Being" album composed by Pembroke, the title song from the "Fairyport" album composed by Gustavson and finally one piece from Pembroke´s debut composed by him. Overall this recording presents Wigwam at the absolute peak of the first period in the group´s history and offers an amazing example of European / Finnish Progressive Rock and Fusion created at the time. In complete contrast to Wigwam, TaivaanvuohiFind albums by this artist was one of the many Finnish Prog / Fusion groups that despite their relative popularity as a live act did not manage record an album and disappeared into oblivion without leaving a trace. The group was formed in 1972 and after a long period of personal hiatus the lineup stabilized around the founding member guitarist Sami HurmerintaFind albums by this artist and included also vocalist Tarmo RoselundFind albums by this artist, saxophonist / flautist Pertti PaivinenFind albums by this artist, bassist Urpo SiitonenFind albums by this artist and drummer Ismo RaisanenFind albums by this artist. This is the lineup that is heard here playing live and which also started to record material for the debut album by the group, which sadly eventually never materialized. The group performs five pieces, four of which are original compositions by Hurmerinta with lyrics by him and other group members and one is a composition by Frank ZappaFind albums by this artist. The music is a unique mixture of Prog, Fusion and Psychedelia featuring extensive guitar and saxophone soloing and judging by what can be heard here they would have perhaps created another Finnish gem album, but alas it was not to be. Overall this is some of the most staggering music created in Europe in the early 1970s that one is able to hear and for Fusion and Jazz oriented Prog-heads this is an absolute must have! Side Note The Finnish independent label SvartFind albums on this label Records released an unprecedented series of albums called Pop Liisa and Jazz Liisa, which present priceless historical recordings of Finnish Rock, Progressive Rock, Jazz-Rock Fusion and Jazz music, recorded live and broadcasted from the Liisankatu Studios in Helsinki under the "Popstudio" and "Jazzstudio" monikers between 1972 and 1977. The studios were owned by the YLE (Finnish Broadcasting Company), a public broadcasting service, which not only allowed the burgeoning Finnish music scene at the time to be exposed but also carefully archived the recordings for future generations. All this incredible music was previously unissued and collectively is probably the most important document of Finnish music from that period ever assembled. The music was released on 36 LPs (Pop Liisa Vol. 01 to Vol. 18 and Jazz Liisa Vol. 01 to Vol. 18) and on 18 CDs with every two consecutive volumes combined on one CD. The sound quality is absolutely superb, often better than the sound quality on the LPs released by these artists at the time. Many of the groups appearing on these albums never managed to record an album and these recordings are the only recorded legacy in existence of their activity. The released are accompanied by well researched and intelligent liner notes. This archival project is an outstanding example of how Cultural Legacy should be treated as well as of exemplary dedication to record producing professionalism.

Updated: 30/04/2020Posted: 30/04/2020

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