In The Bottom Of The Ancient Ocean
Kasino, 2019
8/10
Listen to In The Bottom Of The Ancient Ocean
A Finnish composer who rarely stays in one genre for very long, Pekka Toivonen has had a varied and esteemed career, and with his band the ensemble embrace jazz and classical ideas, but never in the traditional sense.
“For Elise” gets the debut listen off to a key friendly start, as the mood shifts from calm and bare to busy and more forceful, and “Long Shower” follows with horns and more obvious jazz texturing in the blurry delivery where electric guitar and double bass are in attendance.
The back half of the record brings us “Oceanic”, a piano driven tune with neo-classical influences that are always at the surface, while “My Space” a live cut from St.Paul’s, offers dynamic interplay between keys and percussion. “Trip” (live at Malmi) ends the listen with moody brass and twinkling keys in the unpredictable, fascinating exit.
A listen where rock’n’roll, gospel and folk bits are tucked in amid the jazz and classical bouts, Toivonen is keeping this project exciting and spontaneous, with rotating members and ideas. It will be interesting to see where he ends up next, as In The Bottom Of The Ancient Ocean is a grand start.
Travels well with: Erik Satie- Pianoworks; Lau Nau- Poseidon