I would be hard pressed to say what it is that makes the experimental electro-folk of Finland, and of Fonal records in particular, so fascinating. All I know is that the uniquely inventive sounds form this country continue to be both inspiring and intriguing.
Since it was founded in the mid-1990s, the Fonal label run by Sami Sänpäkkilä (who also performs under the name Es)has maintained a consistently high standard through album releases by artists like Lau Nau, Avarus, Paavorharju and Kemiallset Ystävät.
Islaja (Merja Kokkenen) has been one of Fonal's most accomplished artists through her three brilliant solo albums and sublime appearances on other releases.
Although she is now based in Berlin, her Finnish roots are perfectly intact for this magical new record.
The title roughly translates as 'Ceramic Head', a term used on the opening track Joku toi radion (Someone brought the radio) in the line - "I was a ceramic head on wooden shoulders".
All the tracks are sung in Finnish but, for the first time, we are given an English translation of her songs.
Curious lyrics like these make me feel a little better about not understanding what she is singing. I imagine her words are just as strange and enigmatic for Finnish listeners.
Most of the songs seem to navigate a fine line between dream and reality. Two examples taken more or less at random may give a flavour of the surreal content. On Ottakun uhkaus (Otaku's Throat) she sings "When I am brave I get prettier" while Ajanlaskun aatto ( Eve of chronology) includes the line "The longing you feel is vague".
The lyrics also take us into more nightmarish territory. Suzy Sudenkita (Suzy Wolfmouth) has shades of the notable Swedish horror movie Let The Right One In with its tale of a girl isolated from the world who transforms into a flesh- eating vampire.
A grim atmosphere also figures on Pimeyttä kohti (Into the dark) which includes the chilling line "I want to trap the fear into a corridor and fill it up with gas and concrete, all the way to the brim".
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However, this is by no means a bleak album. The overall effect, is one of strangeness and wonder through imagery of wild places and the need to preserve an fresh, even innocent, view of the world.
The florid prose of the liner notes enthuse over the meticulously structured sound in "an album of nine songs and thousands of details"..
These words are by Antii Nylen, a literary dandy from Helsinki who has also written at length about Morrissey. In that essay he quoted a line - "I wish I could amass my wordless anguish" - from Finnish poet Saima Harmaja (who died tragically aged just 22) which also seems to fit the pervading mood of Islaya's record.
She conveys a strong sense of longing through a plaintive voice that expresses everything and nothing; that is dreamy yet fully engaged with reality.
Her voice as instrument is the most captivating aspect of these songs. The minimal instrumentation is about as far removed from a rock sound as you can imagine. There is no distinctive percussion or guitar, just piano and layered sonic effects.
The introspective tone of the album perhaps makes it a little too one paced but there is no question that this is another remarkable album from a highly gifted artist.
Somehow Islaya's music manages to be formless yet meticulously shaped. How exactly she manages to weave this magical spell is not easy to pin down and I am not inclined to deconstruct the sound too much.
I am more than happy to let this mystery be.
Islaja's website
Fonal records website
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