Search - Kimmo Pohjonen :: Kielo

A study in innovation

spiral_mind | Pennsylvania | 02/09/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It begins with a catchy subdued percussion rhythm, almost like the base for a slow African chant. Some sinuous low notes emerge from something sounding like a baritone sax. They're joined by some soft ambient higher notes that could almost be strings. The sonic oddities continue on and off for the next 50 minutes, including demonic moans, guitar-like wails, skronking white noise, various thumps and thuds and even some low-key electronic beats, among others.



At least that's what it sounds like. In truth, every sound on this disc is made by accordion and voice (and apparently a harmonium on one track, which is as close to an accordion as makes no odds). And I know what you're thinking, but fear not - this man does for the instrument what Jaco Pastorius did for the bass and Béla Fleck does for the banjo, making it more interesting and exciting than anyone else would have imagined. Not only is he brilliant in the ideas department (a result of having studied everything from Finnish folk to classical to theater music) and spookily adept at utilizing technology in a musical way, but Kimmo (KEE-mo) has a playing style so expressive and nuanced it's downright scary. And that's not to mention that when he really lets himself go, it's akin to John Coltrane pouring his entire soul out into a solo... except that where Trane reached for the heavens, KP tends more toward channeling the spirit of a gorgon from the netherworld.



Leaving aside the myriad other things he's done, Kimmo's solo work is a study in innovation with the instrument. He samples, loops and processes himself and the accordion to construct layers upon layers of sound, yet always with everything just in its right place. The means may be basic, but the results are as eclectic as a Star Wars cantina. If there's a folky melody, it quickly morphs into something unclassifiable. If there's a simple melodic line being developed, there's always some rhyhtm or counterpoint going on to complement it. Kielo isn't just about music, it's about sound - seeing just how many weird noises can be made from the same instrument, fully utilizing the technological capability of the studio, and using them all to serve the music and never for their own sake. Brian Eno would be proud.



Despite everything, this disc is still quite listenable if you can take a little weirdness. If you've already got a taste for the experimental, I can recommend Kielo with no reservations. If you're not quite an avant-garde person but still musically adventurous, you could like it but I'd heartily suggest KTU's 8 Armed Monkey first. Either way - trust me - you'll never look at the accordion the same way again."