This
is an eleven track CD, with the tracks running from the very short final track,
“Vaija/Out” (1:53) to the longest track, “Dorpati Katustel/On The Rooftops Of Dorpati” (6.38) which is the second track of
the album.
Jakob
plays drums, bass, guitars, keyboards and synthesizers, but does have
additional help on a few tracks with Hans Kurvits (drums) on tracks 3, 4 and 9,
Lauri Ahone (marimba) on track 3, Tanel Koho (alto sax), Roland Mallo (tenor
sax) and Mihkel Kallip (trumpet) all appearing on track 6, and finally, Silver
Sepp (clarinet) on track 9.
The
starting track to the album, T, is “Sisse/In”
(2:18) and begins with a gentle acoustic guitar intro, followed by a simple
synthesizer motif. This is then picked up by a piano and the keyboards build up
in the background by 1:30 minute mark. Synthesizers play to the fadeout. A very
interesting short starting track designed to make you want to hear more of what
is on offer.
Track
2, the longest track, is “Dorpati Katustel/On The Rooftops Of Dorpati” (6:38)
and again starts with a simple acoustic guitar and keyboards build up behind
the melody. There is a sudden change to a clapping/chanting sequence and then
the keyboards build up further in intensity and you become aware of the
bass/drums having appeared as well. The tempo then changes back to the acoustic
guitar and a choral chant behind the theme is superseded by another clapping
passage and tempo change. A keyboard melody takes over around the 3:15 minute
mark and creates images (in my mind) of a multitude of films. Synths flit in
and out of the background and the whole thing merges into a swirling wall of
sound before again settling into a very “filmy” passage which takes the track
out.
Next
up is “Hr Vincent/Mr Vincent” (4:09) and
features a couple of guest musicians, Lauri Ahone
(Marimba)
and Hans Kurvits (drums). A synth intro gently builds with the drums and
marimba taking over to drive the track along. The sound has a sweeping feel to
it as it swirls back and forth before there is a tempo change which leads into
an almost “fairground” passage prior to the return of the synths just before
3:00 minute mark which features another time change. The synth sounds build the
melody up with varying time changes as the track ends.
The
fourth track,” Etuud/Etude” (3:55) has Hans Kurvits (drums) again guesting and
has a piano intro which gives a very distinctive jazzy feel to the proceedings.
Images created by the tinkling piano are of leaves gently blowing in the breeze
as it enters a terrific musical passage. The feeling of “soundtrack” music is
very obvious with this track.
Tracks
5, 6 and 7 are “Mandelbrot/Mandelbrot” (2:24), “Vaelase Kook/Enemy’s Kitchen”
(5:37) and “Raijin/Raijin” (2:09) respectively. Synth intro to set the scene
with track 5, which is almost a white noise atmosphere with bass notes weaving
in and out of the mix. There is a slight change towards the end of the track as
the sound crisps up a bit before fading. Track 6 has a trio of brass guest
musicians, Tanel Koho (alto sax), Roland Mallo (tenor sax) and Mikhel Kallip
(trumpet). There is a jerky percussion start leading into a sweeping piano
passage almost creating a sound wall, building up with piano/percussion and
synths. The brass instruments make themselves heard producing another very
jazzy feel and the whole track is the most up-tempo so far. There is a lot
going on in this track and then it all drops away to leave a piano outro.
Seventh track starts with a percussion/bass intro then a choral background with
synths picking out a melody away in the distance which gives way to an almost
oriental sounding passage. Synth runs drive the track along, and all in all, it
is a very melodic piece.
“Hulkuri
Samba/Samba Of A Hobo” (3:52) and “Juhtam/The Case” (4:57) are tracks 8 and 9,
the former starting with the acoustic guitar, together with odd beeps in the
background, before the synths pick up the melody and play along with the
guitar. Images conjured up with this track are all suggesting driving in the
mountains. Track 9 I found to be the “black sheep” of this collection, as it
has a slightly discordant sound to it from the start. There is a guest
musician, Silver Sepp (clarinet), and Hans Kurvits (drums) appears again. A
very gently jazz influenced track with a variety of passages picked up by the
keys/synths behind the clarinet, but as it progresses it lapses into an almost
free-form jazz as the track moves to the climax.
The
penultimate track, “Amatsooni Kaebelaul/Amazon’s Lament” (4:39) is a very low
key affair with bass/drums and synths before the piano takes over the melody.
They are quickly replaced by the synths return and again and there is the
feeling of discordancy for a moment or two before an Eastern feeling takes
over. There is a tempo change and the sound again builds with the synths to the
fore.
The
final track, “Vaija/Out” (1:53) is a very different track to all that have gone
before. Strumming guitar with a whistled melody over the top, which is very
strangely haunting, then a gentle fade out with a few synth beeps.
This
is a very interesting album and also a very refreshing one. All of the tracks
could be taken from film soundtracks as they all, at times, can conjure up
images from films that the listener will have seen. It is almost like a series
of film soundtrack material for films that have yet to be made. As a debut
album this is very good, the musicianship is excellent and the melodies are
memorable after only one/two plays.
I
stated at the outset that I could find very little information about Jakob
Juhkam, but with this album out in the public arena, I think that there will be
much more information appearing about the artist and I certainly look forward
to hearing where he goes from this debut. T
is a very worthwhile purchase which will constantly get dipped into when
you want to relax and let your mind go off on a journey where images are
vividly “painted” in aural colors.
4/5 Stars
Key
Tracks: On The Rooftops Of Dorpati, Etude, Vaja/Out
Jim “The Ancient One” Lawson-MuzikReviews.com Staff
November 18, 2012
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