We have 3 Album reviews this weekend for new releases we've been listening to all week, and a variety of styles and genres too. Paltsa-Kai Salama is well known to us as the frontman in one of our favourite Finnish bands Black Lizard, and their album 'Solarize' was one of our Albums of the Year in 2015. In fact our appreciation of that album is still one of the few things that all of us who help out at Nordic Music Review agree on, and if you haven't heard it please try and track it down.
His solo album 'Night at the Beach' is released today, and it is shaped by 70's country, folk and rock, considerably different to the Black Lizard style, which is probably a good thing as he has now created an identity distinct to his band - even if you'd have to find the clothes for that identity at a jumble sale, which I don't think seem to happen any more.
The tracks themselves are easily to listen to and should have wide ranging appeal. It opens with the excellent 'Ran Out of Love' with a chirpy acoustic guitar theme and an easy going melody, whilst the sax opening and solos in 'Silent Moment' is a real demonstration of the influences to the album. I love in particular the acoustic driven 'Carry Away' with Paltsa-Kai Salama stripped back and showing a level of subtlety that I haven't seen before. 'Dying on a Sunday Morning' is a real highlight, a psychedelic and more intense track, whilst the country influenced 'Hall of the Dead' is a really thoughtfully written song both musically and lyrically.
'Night at the Beach' is an assured, stylish album, which is proudly shows off its roots not only on the tracks, but even on the album cover. Unlike the amazing 'Svankropp' album, which will probably take you weeks to get to grips with, Paltsa-Kai Salama has delivered a well written album which is pretty much instantly likeable, and has a confidence and identity too. This is well worth you adding to your new music playlists.
Nordic Music Review 7.5 /10