Vihma
Värttinä's latest outing finds them in the schizophrenic position that many quirky pop bands face. Half the tunes here sport rhythm tracks clearly aimed at getting a bit of mainstream radio airplay--a dance club remix of the title song is even included. At the same time, the band's traditional side has never been stronger--"Uskottu ei Uupuvani" and "Mieleni Alenevi" feature the band's trademark Finno-Ugric harmonies with minimal accompaniment, and have a chilling emotional power. Since the band rose to fame on the quirky quality of their traditional music, the hip-hop influenced beats--which often sound as if they were tacked on to the arrangements at the last moment--seem ill-advised.--j. poet