Äiti Maa/Mother Earth

Zäpämmät are a Finnish duo, comprising Marjo Smolander (voice, kantele) and Pauliina Kauppila (voice, berimbau, lamellophones and percussion). Their aim is to create ‘Finnish-language music with strong world music leanings.’ With branches reaching out to embrace West African, Afro-Brazilian and Cuban influences, Äiti Maa/Mother Earth manages to maintain a strong Finnish identity while exploring new possibilities with these distant musical cultures. For the most part the combinations work and bear intriguingly shaped fruit. The opening track, ‘Heitän Suruni’, sets the bar high with energetic close harmonies combined with kantele (the traditional Finnish zither) and percussive Afro-Brazilian berimbau. Strange, unexpected and mesmerising. The rest of the album isn't quite able to keep pace – particularly in terms of energy – but that's not to say it gets boring. In one or two places the incorporation of certain elements (for example West African percussion on ‘Vesi’) perhaps feels a little clunky. At the other end of the scale, two of the strongest tracks on the album, ‘Poika Poloinen’ and ‘Juostaan Järveen’ usher forth graceful sound worlds with straightforward and uncomplicated strength. Overall, this is an album that feels assured and adventurous.