From the strident opening chords of Einojuhani Rautavaara's Fiddlers, it is immediately apparent that Zolo: Finnish Works for Accordion is not a CD for the faint of heart. Either you love the accordion or hate it, but even the most ardent fan may wince at some of the pieces on this stunning 2003 release from Alba. Yet as far as modern music for the instrument goes -- and every work is modern, with all that term implies -- this album is strangely pleasant to hear and fascinating to contemplate for its very strangeness. Listeners who can tolerate the occasional cluster piece will be able to make it through Otto Romanowski's chaotic Hiding for accordion and tape, and find few difficulties with
Jukka Tiensuu's spooky Zolo or the microtonal slides in
Tapio Tuomela's Feux Follet. Yet much of this music has a charming folk-like quality, and some of the pieces share the exotic flavor of, say,
Stravinsky's Petrouchka; such a virtuosic showstopper as Hari Vuori's The Hour of the Wolf may well bring that work to mind. Pehr Henrik Nordgren's In Patches, and Rautavaara's Icons offer less abrasive dissonances, and at a lower volume, the accordion sounds almost as soothing as a harmonium or organ.
Matti Rantanen plays all these works with great vigor and dexterity, and demonstrates the instrument's versatility and fantastic variety of colors. Highly recommended for intrepid listeners.