Search - Wimme :: Cugu

On his last two albums, Wimme has explored the possibilities of the Sami (Lapp) vocal tradition of the joik (a kind of Scandinavian traditional chant), placing it in a modern context, surrounded by loops, beats, and contemporary instruments. The result, especially here, is far more abstract than other Finnish artists, recalling the work of people like Current 93 more than, say, Varttina. While some of the material here, like "Texas," has more of a techno feel, a lot of it pushes Wimme's style to the limit. "Eallima Bárut," for example, is truly a thing of shreds and patches, but utterly fascinating, as the haunting tones of the joik float above the sketches of music. It's magical and mystical, and pushes the envelope about as far as it can do--no bad thing. There's beauty in here too, especially on the haunting final cut, "Agálas Johtin." But with its relentless experimentalism, Cugu offers Wimme's most satisfying and fulfilled work to date. --Chris Nickson