Jaakko Vanhala, Halo Manash, Tervahäät @ Pikku-Berliini, Oulu, 1 Nov 2014

Started by Jaakko V., September 28, 2014, 11:52:50 PM

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Jaakko V.

Pikku-Berliini, Oulu, Finland
1 Nov 2014, 6 pm

Halo Manash (FI)
Jaakko Vanhala (FI)
Tervahäät (FI)
Värt att veta om Herr K. (NO)

Tickets 8 €

https://www.facebook.com/events/768900256490046/


Jaakko V.

Excellent evening. Good sets, good sounds, and turnout was decent: about 100 people in total.

The venue was rather interesting: a big old wooden building built during the second world war by Russian prisoners, to be used as a club-house by Nazi officers. At the moment rented by a DIY culture association for live gigs, rehearsal places etc. Dim and solemn atmosphere with pillars in the shape of algiz-runes.

Three 'stages' were built. One group played acoustically. Playing order was Vanhala, Värt att veta om Herr K. (from Norway/Sweden), Tervahäät, and Halo Manash.

Opening set was divided in three main parts, with first an ambient/electroacoustic intro, which slowly developed to a more rugged and brutish noise crunches, then followed by active and loud harsh noise, and finally incorporating screeching drones and feedback. Huge, violent sound delivered through PA + guitar and bass amps.

Värt att veta om Herr K. was two guys who played acoustic improvisation with a customised drum kit, saxophone and clarinet. Very skilled players making incredibly rich noises and textures. Hissing, crackling, tinkling, and pulsating. Very clear and happening mostly in the upper register. Hard to put this into any genre. Quite tender music in a way. Nice to notice that the audience followed with keen interest, staying silent the whole time. The benefits of playing outside pub environments, when people have arrived for the actual music...

Tervahäät played in almost total darkness. The only light came from candles on a makeshift altar in the middle of the stage. Incense was burned etc. Not much of the folk stuff in the set, the focus was on rougher approach. Immersive and hypnotic set. Electric guitar, bass, percussions/drums, and reverb drenched vocals. Unique Finnish lyrics and themes but somehow the set reminded me at parts of some 80s goth/post-punk, which in this case was a good thing. Really strong.

Halo Manash played their trademark ritual music. Minimalistic, deep sound. Three people on stage. Self-built string instruments played with a bow through effects and amps, vocalisations and whispers, minimalistic drum and gong-patterns, objects and contact mics... Dark and evocative atmosphere. Nice to see this kind of music created with actual physical sound sources.


Some pics below (taken by J. Partanen):

Vanhala





Värt att veta om Herr K.




Tervahäät





Halo Manash