(OR)

Islaja
...Ulual Yyy
...Fonal 2007

從第一首歌Kutsukaa sydäntä響起，就已經意識到Merja Kokkonen的歌聲最適合留在赫爾辛基的森林裡。無論是幾年前的Free Folk、Weird Folk，亦或是重返六、七Ｏ年代的Psychedelic Folk，今天在這裡將它統稱為Finnish Forest Folk會更有說服力。如果三年前的「Meritie」是一張童心未泯的作品，今天聽「Ulual Yyy」顯然Merja Kokkonen已蛻變為成熟女子；歌聲中多了一份滄桑、樂音中也瀰漫著一股陰鬱森林裡的詭譎之氣。僅管如此，再見到Islaja時，還是不忘讚許Merja Kokkonen的美麗；如果不是她，Islaja是何其地令人望而卻步呢。

這裡購買

當漫長的旅途上，夢境與現實交疊糾結的景象不斷浮於腦海，Islaja說故事的本領再次引領我們走進童話故事中神秘的後花園，彷彿置身於霍格華茲那充滿魔幻法力的地方。在Islaja的第三張專輯「Ulual Yyy」裡頭，是顯而易見的迷幻歌謠(Psych Folk)搭配上復古合成樂(fuzzy synthesizer)的斑斕色澤；是探討生命凋零與內心腐蝕灰暗的一面。Merja Kokkonen反常的冷靜與妖異，經常能直逼Nico與Björk。而她寫的歌，就像是刻上一道道的傷痕，不會經時間的沖刷而消逝；也像是一首首的詩，卻讀來不易。脫去「Meritie」光怪陸離的奇異聲效，「Ulual Yyy」著重大量民謠器樂的編排，Merja Kokkonen的歌聲更似在樹林間搖曳的陰影。她的歌聲猶如貓語，時而撒嬌、時而有著刺人的鋒利；再次聽見，腦海裡浮現的，仍然是這個印象。

Islaja's site here
Listen on myspace
and boomkat

ISLAJA: ULUAL YYY (FR-48)

1. Kutsukaa sydäntä
2. Sydänten ahmija
3. Pete P  
4. Laulu jo menneestä
5. Pysähtyneet planeetat
6. Muusimaa
7. Varjokuvastin
8. Muukalais-silmä
9. Suru ei

PRESSRELEASE

Islaja's third album is a journey deeper into the world that for us is a dream and a fairytale, but to her a reality.

Islaja as a concept has turned into a star that is expected to shine with brilliance. But she is something else. The songs tell us about the decay of our age, its demise and immorality. Its plunge into heartless consumer culture. Islaja herself does not burn in that same fire. Her fire is an inner fire. Behind her eyes and in her heart you can see and hear her true charisma. True dedication and utter disrespect for the artificial authority made by men. Yet she is not the self-destructive Nico or the eccentric Björk. But a good woman. A tough one. Her eyes can burn a hole in you. Her songs are poems and stabbing knives.

Format: CD/LP (tracks 1-5 side A, 6-9 side B)
Total lenght: 39 minutes.
Catalogue Number: FR-49/FR-49LP
Released: March 2007