the of mirror eye

* Lau Nau: Kuula (4 mb) | Puuportti rautaportilta (4 mb) | Kivi maurenee jolla kavelee (4 mb)
From Kuutarha : Locust Music : Locust66

So it went something like this: A couple of months ago, I walked into my local record emporium. The owner looks at me as I approach the counter and lifts up a box of cds onto the counter, indicating that I should browse through all the cds that have just come in. I rifle through them, pausing at a new Henry Flynt release. I thought about getting that one, but decided against it because I’ve got a bunch of his stuff that I haven’t really gotten to listen to yet. But as I continue through the box, this release by Lau Nau caught my eye.

And it was then that the owner says, “You’ll probably want that one”. I looked at the cover, with it’s weird line drawings of “exotic” instruments and it’s alien language song titles and asked, “What is it?”. “It’s Finnish psychedelic folk”, he replied. My interest was definitely piqued, but I put it back and started browsing through the rest of the store. I found a couple of other things that I’d been looking for, but for some reason, was really only thinking about the strangely compelling idea of “Finnish psychedelic folk”. I kept wondering what that must sound like. So I went back to the counter and bought it. And it’s had a steady rotation in my cd/mp3 player ever since.

This whole album is stunning. Simple as that. These songs are deceptively simple, but there’s alot going on there. The melodies are hauting and the addition of various stringed instruments maintain a sense of otherworldliness. I could bore you with details of the emerging Finnish free folk scene, of Laura Naukkarinen (Lau Nau herself) and her involvement with various bands in the scene. Of their commitment to the DIY aesthetic, homemade analog recordings and combining various aspects of Indian raga drones, minimalism, experimental and native folk into their music. But I think that would just get in the way of enjoying the music. So just sit back and allow yourself to revel in the mystery and sense of “other” that this lady brings to the table.

—–+—–