TENHI kept us waiting for long, very long. Five years it took to work and complete the fifth album entitled Saivo.
Though, no groundbreaking changes have been made. TENHI rather pick up the thread were Maaäet was once left off. Opening Saivon Kimallus is one of these wonderful gems of music, piano-dominated but apart from that minimalistically orchestrated, atmospheric, dense and intensive. Following Pojan Kiiski then marks a surprising turn in TENHI’s music; since this song is so much more, even richly orchestrated, having a Rock song like structure with lead and rhythm parts, drum work and Tyko Saarikko voice, added by choirs in the background and an accentuating violin. This musical opulence is… unusual yet likewise emotionally touching. It simply gets under your skin. Truly captivating. Following couple of songs more or less balance between purism and instrumental diversity. But here I can’t help but note that these songs are so soaked with euphony, harmony and perfectionism that they hardly leave a deeper impression. It’s more like slight traces in the snow with harsh winds blowing over immediately…
It’s Surunuotta in the second half of Saivo that enchants again and draws my attention back on band and music with its fragile and haunting melody. The great Savoie and my personal fave Vuoksi with its mesmerizing drum rhythms mark the highlight of Saivo. And there is the grandiose final Siniset Runot offering a two minutes part to carefully open the door, just a tiny bit, to eavesdrop, to catch a little glimpse of the other side. It’s just fantastic.
This otherworld is something new too. This time TENHI do not only breathe and devote themselves to nature. Saivo is one of the realms or regions of the dead in the Sami mythology, usually believed to be under special double-bottomed lakes, where the deceased lead happy lives with their families and ancestors. You have this Saivo world in Norway's legends too, thought to exist in the mountains.
Another recurring highlight on this album is the violin that often reminds me of the wistful sound of Chinese Erhu. Pure melancholia.
Yes, the fifth album of the Finns is once again a masterpiece, Finnish poetry set into music, and is next to Sólstafir’s Svatir Sander THE musical highlight in 2011.