There's something in the water in Finland, or perhaps it's just the long dark winters that encourage indoor pursuits like practising your instrument and writing music, but I always seem to stumble across some great music from there, despite the country not having the biggest pool of musicians.
Tuomo & Markus are Tuomo Prättälä and Markus Nordenstreng, and they're developing a nice line in fusing folk, psychedelia, soul, jazz and rock flight of fancies . If you need any more convincing then they've also recorded some singles for Stylart/Timmion Records/DapTone under the alias Pratt & Moody. They've got serious chops and form.
Verneri Pohjola is the son of well known Finnish jazz bass player, involved in multiple projects including leading his own ensemble from the front with his trumpet prowess. Apparently he also plays drums and piano to avoid boredom setting in! I told you those nights are long.
I've got to admit their new single took me a couple of listens, on a cursory quick skip through the quality was obvious but I didn't immediately spot the inventive fusion, which being as I revel in this golden age of musical fusion, was something of an oversight.
I'm glad I persevered though and it wasn't long before I picked up on the Americana undertones, that familiar deep south swing and evocative guitar twang that reminds you of some detective noir set in a desert landscape. A third of the way through a patiently building piano line joins the party, dissolving the images of strong, stoic detectives uncovering human horrors with its smooth jazz vibe. It's then joined by some great trumpet by our man Pohjola who takes his turn assimilating but mostly submerging the Americana with his fine playing. It's a compelling fusion and a great tune, that in an oddly familiar way doesn't sound like much else around.
Playlist Companion:
You can find "Division Street" adding some twang to the
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