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Hannu Lehtoranta Taivaallinen Kuu (Finnish Folk Music Institute) The first solo album of the former Tallari and Tuulenkantajat musician Hannu Lehtoranta brings a global influence to Finland's traditional pastoral landscapes, in much the way Andrew Cronshaw and World Mankeri Orchestra have done. Using various kanteles (modern and traditional), flutes (both Nordic and Asian), percussion and more, he is joined by fine cast of musicians including Martti Pokelaa, Kimmo Pohjonen, Julio Sanonen, Arto Kakko, Aladin Abras, Tapani Varis in what he calls 'hippie visions of an ancient modernist.'

Listen: Aurinko kulkee... Ogoi, Hotel Stanley, Nairobi Ati Afrikaa Paivalli.... From the pages of fRoots Hannu Lehtoranta is Finnish and blows things too, particularly the Finnish traditional birchbark-wrapped wooden whistle, which sounds like a breathy recorder. Over the past 30 years he's led bands and projects of varying acceptance combining the sounds and themes of Finnish tradition with improvisation and often a degree of wackiness. Taivaallinen Kuu sees him gathering contrasting images and views, including a meeting of Kalevalaic and Kenyan music involving Kimmo Pohjonen on gogo-marimba, a growly collage treatment of an erotic poem, a 1930s recording of a runo-epic singer telling a fairytale, transplanted to Nairobi, medieval Finnish church music, a duet with Martti Pokela on five-string kantele. It's a very personal odyssey, in the company of co-producer and fellow instrumental explorer Arto Kakko and others, that doesn't fit neatly into any compartment, even ones of good/ not good; no pretension, just exploration and interestedness. - Andrew Cronshaw

Other recordings you might like: Andrew Cronshaw On The Shoulders of the Great Bear World Mankeri Orchestra EkÉ!