There is a lot of krautrock going on in Scandinavia these days. Fairly recently I spoke highly of Finnish outfit K-X-P’s eponymous debut album and today I’ll do the same with also Finnish quartet Siinai – comprising members of Äänijännite, Zebra & Snake and early ALL SCANDINAVIAN favorites Joensuu1685 – and their great debut album ‘Olympic Games’.

Who are they?
Markus Joensuu (drums, percussion), Risto Joensuu (guitar, bass, voice), Saku Kämäräinen (synthesizers, piano, voice) and Matti Ahopelto (bass, synthesizers, voice).

How’s the album?
Pretty good to be honest. It’s long and demanding (eight songs with a total running time of almost 50 minutes), but if you allow yourself to get caught up in the quartet’s anthemic instrumental universe you’re in for a great ride. Most of the way, that is. Because even though ‘Olympic Games’ is and works as a whole album, it is split pretty much in an upbeat half and a slow, atmospherical, going nowhere but very slowly up half with ‘Munich 1972’, ‘Anthem 3’, ‘Mt. Olympos’ and ‘Olympic Fire’ to cater your acid trip. While these may be appealing in their own right and time, I personally prefer when they – “eventually” must be added when talking about the awesome and defining album opener ‘Anthem 1 & 2’ in the player and ‘Victory’ – let it rip and force me into their krautian, psychedelic synthrock that has both Kraftwerk, Jean Michel Jarre, Pink Floyd and Vangelis to thank (more than one song here calling for a ‘Chariots Of Fire’ style slow-mo running video).

Check them out if you like:
That new wave of Scandinavian kraut roaming earth these days.

More Siinai:
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On www

Genre: Instrumental kraut- ‘n synthrock
Who: Siinai
Album: Olympic Games
Label: Splendour
Year: 2011
Country: Finland
Language: N/A
DOWNLOAD VIA

Recommended tracks:
Anthem 1 & 2 – Marathon – Victory – Finish Line