Huria

Finnish singer and kantele player Sanna Kurki-Suonio is internationally best known for her career with Swedish folk rock band Hedningarna. From 1992 to 1999 she sang and played on and composed for Hedningarna's three most successful albums and performed with the band all over the world. She is a unique talent, a singer who understands the rich tradition of her instrument (the kantele is a traditional Finnish string instrument) but who is also interested in exploring contemporary styles and techniques. Huria is her third album. In some ways this release can been seen as a follow-up to Sanna Kurki-Suonio & Riitta Huttunen’s album Kainuu (2004) as many of the traditional songs are again 100 years old tunes from Finland’s north-eastern Kainuu region. But where Kainuu was pure folklore, this album sounds like contemporary acoustic folk or World music. There are also some great original tunes by the band members and the CD was produced very tastefully by Tapani Rinne of electro jazz band RinneRadio; he kept the sound minimalistic and true to the roots - acoustic and organic, but somehow it sounds very modern, too. Sanna is joined by Riitta Huttunen (also on kantele) and Jari Lappalainen (string instruments and percussion). Tracks: Haudankaivaja (The Gravedigger) / Huria (Reckless) / Tyttö kulkija (The Vagabond Girl) / Mun muistuu (Reminiscence) / Matkalla (On The Road) / Metsälampi (The Forest Pond) / Nousin (I Woke Up) / Vanhanpiian valitus (The Old Maid’s Lament) / Yksi tähti taivaalla (A Star In The Sky) / Tällä laululla (With This Song) / Eron hetki (Bidding Farewell) / Viitalahti / Iltalaulu (An Evening Song).