Salı 19 Eyl 2006, 18:57

She had an amazing gig at Tavastia tonight. Warm-up was Nieminen & Litmanen, the first time I ever saw them live and they were great, as I supposed. But Maritta Kuula herself… this was the best gig I've ever seen from her! The new band is GREAT! They had done some new arrangement, some songs had Sly & Robbie /ska-flavors, some sounded surprisingly like Kaj Chydenius or russian romances. And she has always had that charisma, that voice, those songs with hooks… what a wonderful evening.

I first heard Maritta as a singer of 500 kg lihaa, the avant-pop /experimental band she had with Kauko Röyhkä et al. at the 80s. It was love at first hearing. They made strong, strange versions of finnish poetry and some of their own songs as well. I have their music on vinyl, so you won't see them on my last.fm charts. They have recently reformed, but I haven't managed to see them live yet.

I always thought she was not as good on records as she could; songs were mixed to sound strangely straight-forward rock, considering how much potential her songwriting has for more eclectic outcome. I hope with this new band all these influences will flourish in the studio as well! Because she is one of the best pop song writers (lyrics definitely included) in Finland at the moment and definitely deserves more attention.

There is a new compil out at http://www.lilith.fi, check it out. Biggest daily compared her to early Nico or late Marianne Faithfull. She is more varied though. And less produced.