Pello Revolvers
Hasse K EP
Lompis Records

It would be tempting to call this folk music, with its sparse instrumentation, occasional fiddles, minor keys, and themes of death, sinning, damnation, and too much alcohol consumption. But the sound is a bit too jaunty and upbeat for that. Essentially a one-man band, Hans-Erik Kangasharju, is to be commended for mixing it up, each song has somewhat different instrumentation and a different take on his sound. Kangasharju has a voice that evokes Buddy Holly, though a bit more intense and, alas, a bit more irritating. It would have helped to mix it further down and let the subtle but excellent guitar work shine instead. Indeed, the stand-out track is an instrumental that seamlessly intertwines a killer surf guitar line with a mournful, slow, and almost klezmer fiddle line. It's a strange juxtaposition that works brilliantly. If only the whole EP worked as well.
- Nancy Baym