They released their debut, ‘Chapters’, in late 2007, and now, three years on, Finnish quintet Captain Cougar have their sophomore effort out and about. ‘Of Dreams Long Gone’ is a concept album, telling the tale of an unnamed couple from early 1900s Finland from they meet, marry, propagate, are separated by the short and bloody Finnish civil war (January 27-May 17, 1918) and emigrate west to work the mines of Minnesota, before the widowed woman return to her native land in 1963.

Musically it’s rooted in folk and americana carried by the infamous Scandinavian melancholy (which fits the story rather well) with the odd, grandiose rock ‘n musical theater counter (first single ‘Too Late’ the finest of these moments with its captivating crescendo), and it is in the modest first they really shine with ‘I See You’ and ‘Minnesota Miner’ as highlights. Another is singer Eva Louhivuori. Her vocal is just beautiful and brings life to the story told in the fairly straightforward lyrics.

‘Of Dreams Long Gone’ does get a bit too theatrical for my liking at times, but the historic reference in the very classic “love, pain, hope etc” story makes it interesting, and along with the multilayered soundtrack Captain Cougar has made an impressive stab at one of the most difficult exercises in music.

Genre: Folk/Rock
Who: Captain Cougar
Album: Of Dreams Long Gone
Label: Pinetree Records
Year: 2010
Country: Finland
Language: English
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Recommended tracks:
I See You – Too Late – Lives Are Broken – Minnesota Miner – Sound Of Letting Go