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A fine, albeit somewhat derivative, Finnish jazz-fusion group led by brothers Pekka (guitars, bass, drums) and Jussi (drums) Tegelman. Eponymously-titled first album finds the trio (w/keyboardist Jukka Rissanen) under the spell of the Mahavishnu Orchestra. This is actually a fine rookie effort, with interesting compositions and spirited playing by all. Rissanen sticks largely to the Hammond organ, using synths sparingly and to largely positive effect. Pekka Tegelman takes all the solos and has a distinctive trebly, quavery sound, and brother Jussi's drumming is crisp and sharp. The overall sound of the band on Finnforest reminds me a bit of Focus, and perhaps Arti E Mestieri. A full-time bassist (Jarmo Hiekala)and two keyboardists (Jukka Linkola and Pertti Pokki) were in the band for their second album Lähtö Matkalle, which again has a somewhat derivative sound, but on this release their inspiration seems to come from both Mahavishnu and Weather Report, circa Sweetnighter. Still, there's lots here for fusion aficionados to appreciate, including more fine guitar work from Pekka Tegelman, and some pretty memorable and distinctive compositions ("Elvin" on side 1). The keyboardists get to solo, but they're no great shakes, and one cut ("Lähtö Matkalle, part 1") begins with an overture played by a string quartet! For Demonnights, two saxophonists (Heikki Keskinen and Finnish jazz great Juhani Aaltonen) and a second guitarist (Jari Rissanen) were added, and Tuomo Helin and Jarmo Savolainen replaced the former bassist and keyboardists. Perhaps because of the horns, Demonnights has a more jazzy sound than the previous albums. However, the Weather Report influence now looms very large (especially in the Jaco-influenced bass of Tuomo Helin), and one cut ("Religions") is so derivative that Joe Zawinul could easily have won a plagiarism lawsuit. Even so, there's lots of great playing here, especially from the brothers Tegelman, and Juhani Aaltonen. Of all three records, Demonnights is the one I have listened to the most. Unlike a lot of fusion from the '70s and '80s, these records have a very under-produced, spontaneous feel which I find refreshing. -- Dave Wayne In addition to their three albums, Finnforest also released two singles and one track on the compilation album Rock & Roll juhlaa 2. All these songs are available on the 2-CD compilation Love Proge 2. The gauzy, layered keyboard lullaby "Ketto" (Pellicle) is the most memorable track. The two tracks from the band's 1973 single, "Tyhjyyteen syvyyteen" ("Into the Void, into the Deep") and "Sanomaton kirkkaus" ("Unspeakable Brightness"), are notable for being vocal-based and organ-heavy art rock clearly influenced by early Wigwam, rather different from the fusion approach the band adopted on their albums. In 1977 Pekka Tegelman also provided the compositions and Finnforest the backing band for Nuoruus ("Youth"), a slightly progressive-flavoured pop album by Petri Pettersson. -- Kai Karmanheimo
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