As it happens, January is traditionally a month of dead calm in the music business, so it is a good opportunity to rummage through the crates of independent releases that came out last year, hoping to come across some gems that have gone completely unnoticed by my X-ray eyes. Encouraged by the good fortune of already scoring some excellent finds, I plunged deeper into the archives and stumbled on the progressive four-piece, THE SOLAR EXPEDITION, hailing from Jyväskylä, Finland. This proggy squad released their debut full-length “NOW” on December 1st, 2023, and, after a few spins, it turned out to be a very strong entrée in the Finnish prog-rock scene. The 5-track album unfolds as a cavalcade of atmospheric prog with a hint of metal flourishes and the approach is somewhat similar to the other Finnish prog squad, SPIRITRAISER. The production is top-notch, bringing the somewhat cinematic ambiance to the forefront in nothing short of a spectacular manner.
The title track opens the album in a mellow and pronouncedly atmospheric, acoustic mood. The only thing suggesting prog is probably the septuple meter; the song is quite ingeniously crafted in this off-kilter time signature – from the opening guitar arpeggios onward, the song flows forward with the most natural-sounding groove so that you might not even realize it’s in such a weird meter until the drums kick in. The acoustic guitar sounds particularly delicious during those plucked arpeggios, not to mention the electric guitar licks that resonate with the air of this one iconic Finnish classic, “Paratiisi” by Rauli-Badding Somerjoki (with the guitar parts by Jukka Tolonen). From the band’s website, I learned that the album was mixed by Janne Korpela, so big kudos to him! You see, it does not happen every day that the guitar tones sound this sublime on an independent release.
Next up, “Marching Forward” comes off as a mid-tempo banger of the widescreen-rock variety, almost as if the mid-1990s RUSH and POETS OF THE FALL had a lovechild. The song’s cinematic feel is turned up a good notch in the coda where the KIPINÄT choir steps in, conducted by Kaisa Halmemies. I guess it pays dividends to have a conservatory of music in your hometown. This is yet another feature that sets this outing in a league of its own, given that we’re talking about an independent release.
Perhaps the most metal-tinted track is “Ephemerality,” with its robust riffs balancing the atmospheric guitar doodlings and cinematic flourishes. While the song showcases an almost AOR-like aesthetic, here and there, those killer riffs and licks save the day, at times traversing sonic terrain you would associate with bands such as OPETH even. One lick, in particular, triggers nice “The Devil’s Orchard” vibes. These ruffians sure know how to season their mellow and somewhat radio-friendly prog rock with just the right amount of punch. That said, “When You Learn to Run” turns out to be maybe a little bit too balladeering to my taste, although in the song’s defense, it must be said that I would rather listen to this than, say, the mainstream rock ballads from the 1980s and 1990s from which this song apparently has been drawing substantial influence. Plus, the song features a clarinet, courtesy of Panu Ukkonen. Reed instruments in a rock or metal setting are always a good thing! I could have listened to it even more.
With the album being built around the concept of time, especially how it changes through different phases in human life, the last track, prosaically entitled “Time,” brings closure to this theme in a rather contemplative mood. I guess this track could be thought of as yet another ballad, at least in terms of its tempo, but somehow it still packs more punch than the previous album track. Halfway into the song, the guitar starts chugging out a killer riff, so I reckon the impression of being a tad more driven comes from there. Also, this song features some choir singing and it is indeed a nice touch. The piano outro adds the finishing touch on this epic journey – yeah, it is a somewhat clichéd way to end an album but, here, it works.
So, even with the album slowing down toward the end and losing a bit of its momentum, its best moments are captivating enough to have me glued to my earphones for extended periods of time. Overall, the album is a prime specimen of atmospheric and progressive rock and it features a lot of elements you don’t usually come across with independent releases. All things considered, the future should be looking rather bright for these prog-minded rockers. According to their website, they are planning to start touring in early 2024, so keep your eyes peeled for announcements of live dates in the months to come.
Written by Jani Lehtinen
Tracklist
- Now
- Marching Forward
- Ephemerality
- When You Learn to Run
- Time
Lineup
Atte Kivimäki – keyboards
Ari Kauppinen – vocals, guitars
Vili Kallonen – drums
Leevi Pukki – bass
Label
Independent
Links
https://thesolarexpedition.com/
