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Wimme — Wimme
(NorthSide NSD 6005, 1995, CD)

by Mike Ezzo, Published 1999-01-01

Wimme Cover art

This is my first exposure to what is known as joik singing from Finland. Apparently the male vocalist Wimme is somewhat of an expert in the field. On first listen, his debut effort for the American NorthSide label revealed a resemblance to Indigenous American ritual chant. I had to check the liner notes to ascertain that his music was in fact not really made by Americans. No, the names all look Finnish. For the first few pieces the atmosphere is sparse and brooding. But later, after finally introducing the drums, the mood becomes very ritualistic, a sound that dwells deep in the heart of some foreboding natural environment. It is said that his backing musicians are part of a techno group called RinneRadio, but rest assured — there is nothing even remotely in the techno ballpark anywhere on the CD. Granted, the ancient certainly meets the modern head on, in the way synths, chanting, and drums combine, but the electronics are perfectly congruous with the overall attitude. The opposing forces never intrude on one another, nor appear as a cross-culture mix or mismatch. How they meld is as startling as it is seamless and natural sounding. More than anything this is what engaged my attention, since I have no grounding in the tradition in which Wimme is working. How do you explain it though? Well, first of all it does not always remind me of American chant, but rather something much more sinister. There are moments where he layers many vocal lines to mimic strange musical instruments, or even animals and other nature sounds, one in particular like a pack of crying wolves. Another I can only describe as avant garde yodelling. In the final analysis, I reckon you will hear nothing like this music anywhere else. Wimme is yet another uncanny example of that phenomenon whereby one can make no comparison to another artist. On the whole though, the rather relaxing disposition of this recording should keep potential fans from itching to retreat to the even more easily digestible environs of what rival label Alula has to offer.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 16, 1995 releases

Related artist(s): Wimme

 

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