Pekka Streng & Tasavallan Presidentti - Magneettimiehen Kuolema (1970)

Nuestra cabezona finlandesa Vicky viene con el cometario sobre éste disco que presentamos ahora, un buen viaje lisérgico con el primero de los dos discos que sacaría el músico Pekka Streng (un excelente músico ) acompañado por los buenos muchachos de Tasavallan Presidentti, que irrumpieron con fuerza en el blog.

Artista: Pekka Streng & Tasavallan Presidentti

Álbum: Magneettimiehen Kuolema
Año: 1970
Género: Jazz Rock
Duración: 49:30
Nacionalidad: Finlandia

Lista de Temas:
1. Gilgames
2. Kylmä Kaupunki
3. Olen Erilainen
4. Pitkä Kieli
5. Makea Sandra
6. Laulu Hyönteisestä Joka Nukahti Ruusun Vuoteeseen
7. Takaisin Virtaan
8. Olen Eläin
9. Ahnehtiva Kud
10. Olen Väsynyt
11. Sisältäni Portin Löysin
Bonus tracks :
12. Gilgames (Demo)
13. Makea Sandra
14. Laulu Hyönteisestä Joka Nukahti Ruusun Vuoteeseen

Alineación:
- Pekka Streng / vocals, acoustic guitar
- Pekka Laitinen / Bass, Piano
- Seppo Paakkunainen / Flute
- Ilpo Saastamoinen / Guitar
- Mike Koskinen / Trumpet
- Edward Vesala / Drums
Additional musicians:
- Karoly Garam / cello
- Esko Rosnell / drums, bongo, table

Empezamos el día en una semana a puro Tasavallan Presidentti, ahora con un disco junto al talentoso Pekka Streng, pero mejor la dejo que les cuente Vicky que es la responsable (o irresponsable, según se lo mire) de todo esto:

Queridos amigos cabezones, prepárense para un buen viaje lisérgico proveniente de estas frías y lejanas tierras!! Acá tenemos el primero de los dos discos que sacaría Pekka Streng, Magneettimiehen Kuolema (“The Death Of A Magnet Man”), acompañado por nuestros muchachos de Tasavallan Presidentti. Un gran velo místico envuelve a este artista. Basta con escuchar su música para apreciar la espiritualidad de Pekka. Según leí en algunos otros comentarios, sus letras son de una profundidad muy grande. Probablemente haya tenido algún tipo de influencia en este misticismo el hecho de que murió a una muy temprana edad (en 1975, a los 26 años). Aparentemente, él se habría enterado de que tenía cáncer durante el servicio militar en 1967, y es de suponer que esto haya afectado fuertemente en su cosmovisión y en su arte. Además, él siempre trató de evitar cualquier tipo de publicidad y solamente dio una entrevista sobre música, por lo que mucho no se sabe sobre Pekka.
En este álbum nos encontramos con unos buenos colchones de guitarras acústicas, guitarras eléctricas muy psicodélicas, bongos, flautas y muchas dosis de música oriental (sobre todo de India). Igual la verdadera psicodelia no radica tanto en la música como en la lírica: no pude encontrar ningún tipo de traducción (aaaah, me dieron unas terribles ganas de aprender finlandés!!), pero por lo que pude averiguar sobre ellas, estaban muy inspiradas en filosofías y religiones orientales, abordando temas como la reencarnación, el karma, la muerte.
Creo que este trabajo de Pekka debe ser de los más importantes dentro de la escena psicodélica finlandesa. Una de esas joyitas que nunca pierden su luz pase la cantidad de tiempo que pase. Personalmente, me parece un disco lindísimo y no puedo dejar de pensar que me estoy perdiendo ideas muy reveladoras (solo me queda como consuelo la sensación de que la música enriquece mi espíritu de alguna forma más o menos inconsciente).

Vicky

Un disquito que no creo que encuentren en muchos lugares, ahora, algunos comentarios en inglés...

Like in his second album "Kesämää" Pekka had a great group (Tasavallan Presidentti here) supporting him with his legendary albums. Pekka's records would have been nothing without Pekkas voice, I like it! After all this is just some kind of psychedelic folk and vocals hadn't be so "great" huh? Pekka was mystic person and his life was way too short but the lyrics tell me that he experienced alot in his life until the cancer overtook him. These lyrics are hard to really understand, one will need his/her imagination here (and understanding of finnish sadly)! This is darker album in mood than "Kesämaa" and even more in depth of mysticism. After all Pekka was very sensitive poeter and good pole jumper.

Tsamowahr

I love this album, the first time i heard i was disappointed, couse i was expecting a prog album, but listening after listening i start to really appreciate it. Great arrangement by Tasavallan President and great song like Olen Eirlainen, Gilgames, Kylma Kaupunki, Pitka Kieli and Olen väsynyt

bungle77

Officially a release by Pekka Streng & Tasavallan Presidentti, usually Magneettimiehen kuolema is considered the first of the two Pekka Streng (solo) albums. One of the essential psychedelic pop records in Finland, it also contains one of the most artificial(-sounding) psych album titles ever: 'Death of the Magnet Man.' However, the album itself is less forced, containing a sound of its very own. It is far from perfect, especially because Pekka was far from a good singer. Still, "Sisältäni portin löysin" and "Olen erilainen" are fine little soft-psych-pop songs and "Olen väsynyt" is a rare case of avant-garde poetry that is really psychedelic. And please don't worry, you will find your familiar-while-weird backward sounds and India influences here too.

fairyeee

PEKKA STRENG (26.4.1948 - 11.4.1975) was both a mystic and a tragic character, being a pioneer of the small scene of Finnish psychedelic folk music. At late 1960’s he participated in activities of The University Student Theatre, and he also did some radio plays which made so good impression to the staff at YLE (Finnish Radio Broadcast co.), that he was recommended to Otto Donner, who invited Pekka to do recordings for the famous Love Records label. On these albums along with the help famous Finnish musicians Pekka sings and plays acoustic guitar, and also all of the songs and lyrics on these records are written by him.
His first record “Magneettimiehen Kuolema” (”The Death of A Magnet Man”, 1970) was done with the famous prog band TASAVALLAN PRESIDENTTI. This album holds themes of oriental philosophies and religions, and the most famous track on it is the song “Sisältäni Portin Löysin” (“I Found a Gate Within Myself”), which describes poetically the process of consciousness expansion, and it has also been performed by many other famous Finnish artists. There are also other interesting tunes on it, like euphoric “Gilgamesh”, “Olen Erilainen” (“I’m Different”) and “Pitkä Kieli” (“Long Tongue”).
The second album “Kesämaa” (”Summerland”, 1970) was done with another league of famous Finnish musicians featuring Olli Ahvenlahti, Eero Koivistoinen, Hasse Walli and Pekka Pöyry. The overall feeling of the records is a bit more warm-hearted and clearer than it’s more psychedelic predecessor, but it too has fine artistic and surreal elements in it. Also along with Pekka’s poems there are also some texts of other authors there, like TOVE JANSSON.
Sadly during his military service at 1967 Pekka had got a cancer, and the awareness of his dangerous illness surely affected his artistic career. He died at the age of 26 leaving behind only two finished albums and plans for the third album, which never got recorded. There was a memorial concert held for both Pekka and Matti Kurkinen (member of band KALEVALA who died at same year) at Kulttuuritalo, with performers like Jukka Tolonen, Rock’n’Roll Band, Albert Järvinen and KALEVALA.
Though Pekka was never an extremely popular artist, he has a strong cult status, his records have been selling in a constant flow, and there are some neat remastered CD’s of his albums on the markets. Though he had fans during his lifetime, he was never interested of publicity, and he gave only one interview, which was published posthumously. His position is definitely among the other 1970’s Finnish progressive artists like WIGWAM and TASAVALLAN PRESIDENNTI, though his Finnish sung works may not be as accessible to non-Finnish speaking audiences than to Finns.
From ProgArchives
Astonishing psychedelic LP,combining psych popish sounds with avant garde poetry.Eastern influences (Indian mostly) are clear.Music is hypnotic,trippy and has a magickal feeling spreadig.

Mutantsounds

Y que lo disfruten, me imagino que ya saben que los links no estarán aquí, los tenemos bien guardaditos en la lista de correo.