Nordic Notes Asu: CD-levy Vuosi: 2025, 14.02.2025 Kieli: Englanti
A Nordic August evening: everyone brings treats, and we enjoy the warm summer night in a cheerful circle. With a wild mix of musical morsels under the Northern Lights, Uusikuu, led by Finnish singer and composer Laura Ryhänen, invite us to join their sixth album “Piknik.” This is about exuberant zest for life, infectious rhythms, deep emotions, passion, delight, romance, and drama. Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for the seventh time. But what is Finnish happiness, or Onni, all about? Cheerfulness, subtle humor, quirky anecdotes – but also stillness and peaceful moments.
Uusikuu (New Moon) set out in 2006 with the ambitious goal of breathing new life into traditional Finnish tango. The sprightly world music quintet has nothing to do with the typically melancholic tango mood. This small orchestra, describing its style as "Vintage Sounds of Finland," pays a respectful homage to the traditional Finnish entertainment music of the 1930s to 1960s on their albums. With Piknik, however, the group does not linger in nostalgia but ventures boldly into the fabulous 1970s and 1980s. And since Uusikuu are huge fans of the Eurovision Song Contest, references to the legendary competition are a must on this new album as well.
Four of the twelve album tracks are original compositions by Uusikuu, while the remaining songs feature a skillful mix of humorous humppas, soulful tangos, and iconic swing tunes.
Laura Ryhänen herself contributes the album's opener, “Mata Hari's Eyes,” a tribute to the legendary Dutch dancer and spy. Inspired by a moment passing her house in The Hague by boat, the song tells the story of a girl from the red-light district finding strength, courage, and independence through dancing in a mystical nightclub. Night after night, she dances alone to the mysterious tune of “Mata Hari's Eyes.”
At the Uusikuu picnic, the woman of long embraces dances a mysterious Finnish tango (Pitkien halausten nainen). Then there’s Lempi, the shy young criminal driven by passion, serving her murderous sparkling wine to the rhythm of an infectious Jenkka. Meanwhile, the remorseful bank robber tries to ease his guilty conscience, sailing on a soothing Bossa Nova wave (Pimeyden työt).
A wonderful guest on the Uusikuu picnic blanket is Finnish singer Milana Misic. Like Uusikuu, she is a devoted ambassador of Finnish vintage music. Together, they breathe new life into the immortal swing hit “Sä kaunehin oot” (Bei mir bist du schön). With “Sulle salaisuuden kertoa mä voisin,” Misic and Uusikuu celebrate the Harmony Sisters – one of the first groups to bring American close harmony singing à la Andrews Sisters to Finland. Eurovision references are never far away: Milana Misic's mother, the legendary Laila Kinnunen, was Finland's very first contestant at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1961!
With “Yes sir, alkaa polttaa,” Uusikuu reveals their admiration for the legendary Spanish Eurovision disco duo Baccara and their 1970s mega-hit “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie.” “My cousin and I have been die-hard Baccara fans since childhood. My mother even sewed us matching stage costumes. Now, we both have identical Baccara tattoos,” Laura confesses with a wink.
The Uusikuu picnic basket also includes a portion of Nordic Noir, for example, their version of the classic “Summer Wine” by Lee Hazlewood and Nancy Sinatra, titled “Kotiviini.” In the late 1980s, “Summer Wine” topped the Finnish charts with Finnish lyrics sung by Anna Hanski and Pekka Kaasalainen. The version by HIM frontman Ville Valo and Natalia Avelon is also familiar in Germany.
With their masterful mix of fiery tangos, dreamy waltzes, cheeky Jenkkas, funny Humppas, and light-footed swing sounds, Uusikuu has always invited their audience to dance. Critics are equally impressed: in December 2023, Uusikuu's previous album was awarded the German Rock & Pop Prize 2023 in the category "Best World Music Album."
Mata Hari's Eyes
Iltaan syttyvät lamput
Sä kaunehin oot
Yes sir, alkaa polttaa
Sulle salaisuuden kertoa mä voisin
Abessinia
Pitkien halausten nainen
Lempi
Kotiviini
Pimeyden työt
Tunturitaival
Elokuun illat