Varttina / Miero
Album: Miero   Collection:World
Artist:Varttina   Added:Jan 2006
Label:Realworld Records  

A-File Activity
Add Date: 2006-02-19 Pull Date: 2006-04-23 Charts: Reggae/World
Week Ending: Apr 23 Apr 16 Apr 9 Apr 2 Mar 19 Mar 12 Mar 5 Feb 26
Airplays: 1 2 1 1 1 2 3 6

Recent Airplay
1. Dec 15, 2021: At the Cafe Bohemian (rebroadcast from Apr 5, 2017)
Mataleena
4. Mar 08, 2017: Women of the World
Mataleena
2. Jul 12, 2017: At the Cafe Bohemian
Riena (Anathema)
5. Jan 06, 2009: At the Cafe Bohemian
Riena (Anathema)
3. Apr 05, 2017: At the Cafe Bohemian
Mataleena
6. May 29, 2007: Lost and Found
Riena (Anathema)

Album Review
Decca
Reviewed 2006-02-14
The Finnish band is known for its tight female vocal harmonies and serious playing of (mostly) traditional instruments by the men. On this release, the sound is decidedly dark. Even when the tempo is fast there’s a creepy thread throughout. The lyrics (don’t miss reading the translations – they’re freaky!) are also pitch black, (“my loathing drips blood, my pain slashes, curses, drenches with pus”). It’s oddly compelling – like toe-tapping dirges sung by the ship’s band on the boat to hell. Strangely beautiful, but I’m scared. Hold me.

*1. Fast and dark w/a great sound that sucks you in.
2. More relaxed, nice strings w/a lazy darkness.
*3. Mostly midtempo w/a solid drive. Crazily whining.
4. Contemporary folk rock, driving, ominous.
5. Slow opening. Gets midtempo & almost pretty.
6. A capella voices, relaxed, a nasal sound. Can lead right into #7.
7. Midtempo, strong beat, rock-influenced folk.
*8. Relaxed & sad, gets midtempo. Great harmonies. Tragic.
9. Slow and stately w/an almost medieval sound. Sort of sadly lovely
*10. Unexpectedly jazzy. Upbeat, twisting, cool.
11. Mid/uptempo instrumental. Not as dark as some.
*12. Percolating a capella voices. Midtempo. It’s a hex, it must be!
13. Sweet fem vox. Gets dark, midtempo w/a touch of jazz.

Track Listing
1. Riena (Anathema)   7. Mierontie (Path Of The Outcast)
2. Valhe (The Lie)   8. Mustat Kengat (Black Shoes)
3. Mataleena   9. Lupaus (The Promise)
4. Synti (The Sin)   10. Lumotar (The Enchantress)
5. Maaria   11. 9 Lukkoa (9 Locks)
6. Miero (Outcast)   12. Eerama
  13. Vaiten Valvoin (I Lay Awake)