psych-folk review page : Kosmos

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Kosmos : Tarinoita Voimasta (FIN,2005)****

In Finland until now, I have recognized only two distinctive approaches to “folk” styles, which are firstly traditionalists, supported by the government mostly (reviewed on next review page), and secondly the “experimental improvised mood creators”. 'Kosmos' is the first group I know of which is much more in the 70’s English & perhaps German psych-folk “tradition”. All vocals are Finnish.

Kosmos is a sextet with a female lead singer. The music builds up a very moody, soft melancholic sphere with soft, warm dreamy songs, accompanied by piano, mellotron and guitars mostly. The instrumental “Seireeni” has more mellotron and drums. By the time of “Öisin” and the following tracks, this mood has built up to something unique, which usually is only associated with 70’s collectables. The eighth track has some progressive electric rock parts with bass and electric guitar, drums besides another part with the generally more psychfolk driven music with vocals and mellotron lead. Recommended !

Audio : "Tuhat elämää", "Seireeni", "Luuttomat", "Salaisuus" & on http://www.myspace.com/kosmosband

Homepage : http://www.nic.fi/~ovaltone/kosmos/

Private Kosmos : Polku (FIN,2007)***°

Kosmos developed their unique style further, of sweet and gentle, melodic psychfolk, with a female vocalist who’s voice sounds like whispery wind in nature, with gentle acoustic guitars, and some more dreamy analogue keyboards, softly spreading in space, as the cosmos part of the group. The lyricism in the songs remains while the instruments change more often within each song. I can only compare this to the likes of a softened (German) Emtidi, the best of the (Dutch) Night Watch, and to the Basque Itziar and perhaps the first Haizea. Some members also appear in the group Viima (review on next page), of which Kimmo Lähteenmäki plays full time in both groups. One of the warmest psychfolk releases you can buy now. The LP version is limited to 500 copies.

Kosmos is Päivi Kylmänen : vocals, voice, whispering, whistling ; Kimmo Lähteenmäki : drums, piano, organ, mellotron, synthesizer ; Kari Vainionpää : guitar, bass guitar ; Aapo Helenius : guitar, conga drums ; Olli Valtonen : shrutibox, theremin ; Ismo Virta : guitar, organ, mellotron, synthesizer.

Audio : "Polku 1", "Vieras kieli", "Omini'i Dakakos", "Kesä" & on http://www.myspace.com/kosmosband

Homepage : http://www.nic.fi/~ovaltone/kosmos/

Description : http://clear-spot.nl/catalog/view.php?item_id=280864

Private Kosmos : Vieraan Taivaan Alla (FIN,2007)**°°

This latest album of Kosmos might need just some patience from the listener who might be used to an overactive life and who expects the whole “progressive” edge to unfold itself too quickly because in this Kosmos-rhythm things unfold slowly to the top, leaving space for the other aspects to be appreciated, one by one. The first part are with acoustic songs mostly, sung by a beautiful female voice, with or without some mellotron and some percussion, some violin on track 3, and some bassoon on track 4, all is a bit more down to dreamy songwriting spheres. The lyrics are in Finnish but those who want can follow the translations included. Then thoroughly the mellotron comes back in, and other elements become stronger, (just in time) like some electric guitar and bass and drums, a few spoken word passages (male voice) with tampura, and one longer heavier psychedelic jam, in a different also more worked style which suits the band well.

Audio : "The Sleepless Angel", "I Give In", "On Windy Days", "The Strangers Arrive"

Info & audio : http://www.myspace.com/kosmosband

Homepage : http://www.nic.fi/~ovaltone/kosmos/

Description on http://www.jukeboxshop.net/... & http://www.clear-spot.nl/...

Finish review on http://desibeli.net/arvostelu/4126