April 2010, Parola, Finland. Davy and Jore are busy working on a 4 CD box as a new band called The Baltic Moonshine Band —and of course the latest album by The Mescaline Smugglers with Tuomas. So no KMQ album this year? Well - they have some folky stuff made for The Baltic Moonshine Band - and there are some outtakes from last year, also three tracks from a session with A.P. Sarjanto from April 2009... Some unused tracks were also found from the dark corners of Jore's studio pc - so suddenly they had 18 tracks together... and no reason at all why these couldn't form the next KMQ album. Not bad for 'The album that shouldn't exist'.
Guests this time are Tuomas Laitila (bass on The Partisan, Sally, Free And Easy, Waxies' Dargle and Rocky Road To Dublin and piano on Greg's Icecream Machine), A.P. Sarjanto (mandolin on The Partisan, mandolin and tenor banjo on Waxies' Dargle and tenor banjo on Rocky Road To Dublin), and Ilona Ala-Leppilampi plays her heartbreaking violin on Resurrecion Suite.
Greg's Icecream Machine is Jore's humble hommage to Greg Hodgkins, our most loyal fan and reviewer.
Here you can see the art cover made by Joonas Heikkilä:

Front	Back (big)	Back (small)

SONGS COMMENTS byDavy

11 review by Greg

Album 11 of the Kvester Melkk Quintet has been available since the end of April. Gorgeous new website — beautiful graphics and nicely laid out. My only complaint is the lyrics link is not there yet. I love to read the lyrics to get insights into the music and try to find the cover songs' lyrics online.

For an album that shouldn’t exist, this is a wonderfully cohesive bunch of music. Hard to believe that this is number 11 already! Great cover by Jore’s son. Plenty of Celtic music and a grand mix of traditional songs and new music composed by Jore and Davy with lyrics by Davy. A bounty of drinking songs, romantic ballads and thoughtful lyrics and melodies.

Exceptional instrumental to start the album. Has a John Renbourneish feel, although it also reminds me of the high desert country of New Mexico, with cactus and sand in the winter sun.

Another brilliant instrumental as a dance piece. Has an indefinable Celtic/African groove. Superbly unsual. First pick of the album.

A peek into the past darkly — a piece talking about the sadness we all feel when beholding the march of time and the intransigence of memory. Great banjo interlude in last quarter of the song. Very European sound, which always intrigues me.

Great little historical drama — a reminder to us of those really brave folks who sacrificed home and family for love of country, freedom and independence. Bravo that no country or cause is mentioned — maybe France, Russia, perhaps Afghanistan. Who knows? Great, heartrending vocals and beautiful mandolin accompaniment.

Funny, whimsical drinking song. Scottish and yet with a primitive American feel as well (might be because, the tune is the same as “The Girl I Left Behind” – a favorite of George Armstrong Custer). Absolutely delightful with a whole Celtic orchestra playing, while we stamp our feet in time. Get out the Guinness!

Excellent mix of vocals, instrumentation and lyrics with deep roots. One of the best things that Davy and Jore do is produce songs like this that sound so traditional that you have to guess whether its an original or an old folk tune. The instrumentation is outstanding, with the Balalaika a wonderfully unexpected addition.

Really funny, thoughtful, sardonic lyrics are enlivened by the lush instrumental. Listen closely to the mandolin on this, it’s a delightful dance around the guitar.

Great cover of this Bert Jansch song. The fact that it is very much like the Donovan cover just reminds us of the period when Don’s music was cruder, simpler, mainly free of “save the world” pretensions and had some nice acrobatic guitar picking. Nicely done.

A mesmerizing trance is woven by the guitar and bass around the free form lyrics. Fantastic vocal performance by Davy actually makes the listener feel like they are watching a performance from a desolate windswept hill at sunset. Nice little tinkling instrumental in the end.

Found the lyrics for this online, with the notation that it’s in 9/8 time and a warning seemed personally directed to me that I’m playing it too slow. Cracked me up. Love the way the jazzy bass comes in at the top and then introduces the other instruments. Vocals and instruments vie for top rating, with vocals just edging out the instruments. Splendid rendition of this jig, if you’re not slappin’ your knees in time to the song, you must be dead.

Okay, I am prejudiced on this one. I am delighted and honored greatly by this fantastically enjoyable song suits my mood and makes me laugh every time I hear it. Love the way the banjo, mandolin and piano are orchestrated like a 1920’s jazz band. Banjo and more banjo! Jore’s lyrics and singing are just perfect! You’d be surprised at how close the lyrics come to fact! Wish I could make you all some fresh strawberry ice cream and some Ray’s special Butterfinger /Toffee crunch ice cream and send it by Fedex.

This is definitely the best version of this Donovan song that has ever been done. Jore’s lovely Finnish accented spoken version is captivating. Add gorgeous layers of guitar and mandolin that evoke ancient fairy tales told by a fireside with silvery enchanted moonlight coming through the window. Listen to this again and again, it’s worth it.

I am awestruck by this song: vocal, instrumentation and the production overall including the stream and outside sounds, everything fits together so beautifully as a transformational experience filled with splendor and love that is not of this world. Step through to the other side for four minutes of ecstasy. Jesus, this is fantastic.

I’m wish washy on this one. Nice little ¾ time dance tune. Great guitar work, though I think it could have use one more instrument —mandolin or banjo— to round it out.

Another great vocal by Jore, of a haunting ballad by Davy. Guitar and Mandolin are exceptional - intertwining and complimenting each to each and moving the song right along. I wanna see the lyrics!

Excellent song, wonderful Dylanesque lyrics – both sarcastic and playful, with a wonderful mocking vocal by Jore. Guitar and banjo complemented by banjo solos. Who could ask for more? I wanna see the lyrics!

Not familiar with any but Simon and Garfunkel’s version, but this is a brilliant version, deceptive in it’s simplicity. Arpeggio’s abound as the guitar strings are worked like the rigging in a sailing ship. Vocals are excellent, evoking early morning, springtime and the green vitality of the land.

A wonderfully romantic love song masquerading as a lullaby, seducing the listener with Ilona’s gorgeous violin. Nice song to end on.

Overall an excellent album, full of the music that we love with special appearances by enough great musicians to really make this a quintet. Fantastic for an album that shouldn’t have been. Don’t forget you can download this fantastic music for free at http://www.kvestermelkkquintet.com/

Greg

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