Starting with the autoharp plucks and overlays of “Kelmejä,” Kiila moves into a sudden bit of rock drama that feels very 1971 and 2001 all at once. Acid folk takes on whatever form it does over time, and Finland being such a good home for it is retrospectively no surprise. More random, fluid performances like “Kiviä Ja Taivasta” bring out that side of the band, but sometimes intense focus is what works best. That’s definitely the case on “Katut Linnut,” where a close, intense guitar strum and soft singing build into a swirling overlay of many instruments, all while the key strum continues in nervous, tense fashion. The wild flutes, rumbling drums, and elegant drama of “Auringonlunta” is flat-out breathtaking, with an actual sense of progression making it feel like a piece of skilled theater come to life. Meanwhile, the dramatic beginning of “Tapanina Aukesi Vuori” almost rivals the huge dramatics of Six Organs of Admittance’s The Sun Awakens but in a more focused way, slightly crisper rather than completely immersive. In contrast, the gentle “Minã-Laulu” is one of the most straightforward songs, albeit in the band’s own sweetly unusual way. – Ned Raggett
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