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Absoluuttinen Nollapiste

About:

The band was established in 1991 by Jukka Leinonen and Aki Lääkkölä in Rovaniemellä. With Tommi Liimatta on vocals, who is besides singer also cartoonist, painter and writer. The line up was completed by Tomi Krutsin and Aake Otsala with whom the band started rehearsing. In 1993 they started getting serious and participated in the Rockin SM competition ending fifth. The band's eccentric appearance attracted much interest and the were asked to record a first song for a local compilation. The next year they released their first five song EP ‘levyn Ei ilmestynyt’. This was followed by their debut album ‘Neulainen Jerkunen’ released on the small label Vinylmania. It did not really get noticed but did give them the opportunity to record a second album on the larger indie-label Johanna Kustannus. In 1996, lead singer Tommi Liimatta recorded and released a solo album ‘Liimatan Pan Alley’  while the other bandmembers were called to military service. In subsequent years the band held a regurlar pace in releasing albums but remained an underground phenomena. In 1999 backing singer and percussionist Teemu Eskelinen became a full member of the band untill 2001. Although their latest album ‘Olos’ sold reasonably it was time for a reconsideration of their sound. The compilation ‘Olen pahoillani’ (I’m sorry) of 2001 closed the first period.

In 2002 the band returned with a more accesiable sound. The single ‘Irene Kaktus’ became their first chart-hit. The follow up single ‘Eräät tulevat juosten’ and their 2002 album established their growing popularity. In 2003 Janne Hast joined the band on keyboards delivering a new sound on the album ‘Seitsemäs sinetti’. The following year the band released a collection of rareties and EP’s called ‘Sortovuodet 1994–2004’. The 2005 album ‘Mahlanjuoksuttaja’ had an enviremental central theme build around texts of Tommi Liimatta, although according to him it was not a theme album. In 2006, during a break by the band, Liimatta released another solo album called ‘Tropical Cocktails’. In 2007 the EP ‘levyn Lihassa ja taivaassa’ preceded the album ‘iiris’ with for the first time Hast as a composing bandmember. In February 2011 the band released a Demo 3-C-cassette, which includes re-arrangements of the band's early demo tracks. The cassette was sold only though the band’s website. In 2012 the band releases part 1 of a concept album build around science fiction adventure concerning a drop of pure evil and a ram. The album features some gueststars who take up one of the parts in the story. Two years the band presents part 2 of this SciFi rock opera.

On the web:

- AN's official website: http://absoluuttinennollapiste.fi/

What do we think:

DB: With the term folkprogrock on their hands most people probably get visions of hippies playing lengthy songs on bongos and a guitar. Skip that thought because AN is much more pop then you would assume. Yes, there are lots of elements of local instruments and melodies in there but the band always seems to give it a swing towards a comfortable listening experience without getting themselves lost in the (Finnish) woods. It’s like expecting something mouldy and instead getting a crystal clear and focussed gift. There is a world between pop and prog is what AN proves.

If you like this, you probably like.. / european counterparts:

- Czesław Śpiewa  (Poland)

Albums:

- Neulainen Jerkunen - 1994

- Muovi antaa periksi - 1995

- Simpukka-amppeli - 1998

♪♪♪♪ - Suljettu - 1999

- Olos  - 2000

- Nimi muutettu - 2002

♪♪♪ - Seitsemäs sinetti  - 2003

♪♪♪♪ - Mahlanjuoksuttaja  - 2005

- iiris - 2007

♪♪♪ - Musta hiekka - 2009

♪♪♪ - Pisara ja lammas 1 - 2012

♪♪♪ - Pisara ja lammas 2 - 2014

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♪♪♪♪♪ = outstanding album, an absolute must-have
♪♪♪♪ = great album, highly recomended
♪♪♪ = nice album
♪♪ = be careful, requires listening before buying
♪ = best to be avoided