Review: Kuumaa — Pisara meressä (2024)
How a radio friendly masterpiece became a comforting escape from dark and nihilistic trends
This Sunday, we are blinded by the bright colors of the album artwork by Kuumaa, creators of the LP Pisara meressä, which will be the focus of today's discussion.
Many discovered the pop-rockers Kuumaa precisely through the Finnish selection contest UMK. Now, with the Eurovision Song Contest just around the corner, those who were involved in the competition or its related events are being remembered with particular frequency.
However, for the residents of Finland, Kuumaa had long been a popular band; the guys were filling stadiums, winning awards at the Emma Gaala, and generally establishing themselves as an interesting and ambitious team.
At first glance, this is hardly surprising. Their sound is not aimed at being heavy; it is meticulously crafted pop music with a recognizable eighties aesthetic, dominant synthesizers, and the soft vocals of Johannes Brotherus.
Many discovered the pop-rockers Kuumaa precisely through the Finnish selection contest UMK. Now, with the Eurovision Song Contest just around the corner, those who were involved in the competition or its related events are being remembered with particular frequency.
However, for the residents of Finland, Kuumaa had long been a popular band; the guys were filling stadiums, winning awards at the Emma Gaala, and generally establishing themselves as an interesting and ambitious team.
At first glance, this is hardly surprising. Their sound is not aimed at being heavy; it is meticulously crafted pop music with a recognizable eighties aesthetic, dominant synthesizers, and the soft vocals of Johannes Brotherus.
Yet, as is often the case with bands that do not irritate absolutely anyone, a logical question arises: what actually remains when you strip away this flawless wrapping? Critics have already managed to dub Kuumaa as “Pariisin Kevät for everyone” and even as “a bar of soap that is impossible to grasp.”
On one hand, the record genuinely hooks the listener with its disarming lightness and life-affirming simplicity. The title and the title track set the tone, suggesting that your sorrows are just a drop in the ocean. It is highly comforting music with a radio-friendly atmosphere. In an era where Finnish rap is becoming dominant on music platforms, pushing an increasingly dark and nihilistic mood, Kuumaa offers a breath of fresh air—a simple, understandable, and almost childlike optimism.
Perhaps there is no point in reproaching Kuumaa for using proven techniques when creating their songs, though the band certainly loses a bit of risk in the process. Here, it is easy to understand those who do not care for their music at all, finding it too sterile and filtered. However, for me, this band's albums have long been a pleasant escape.
Personal recommendations: “Pisara meressä”, “Aaveisiin”, “Täydellisin”, “Satama”, “Tässä on kaikki”, and “Luotan tulevaan”.
On one hand, the record genuinely hooks the listener with its disarming lightness and life-affirming simplicity. The title and the title track set the tone, suggesting that your sorrows are just a drop in the ocean. It is highly comforting music with a radio-friendly atmosphere. In an era where Finnish rap is becoming dominant on music platforms, pushing an increasingly dark and nihilistic mood, Kuumaa offers a breath of fresh air—a simple, understandable, and almost childlike optimism.
Perhaps there is no point in reproaching Kuumaa for using proven techniques when creating their songs, though the band certainly loses a bit of risk in the process. Here, it is easy to understand those who do not care for their music at all, finding it too sterile and filtered. However, for me, this band's albums have long been a pleasant escape.
Personal recommendations: “Pisara meressä”, “Aaveisiin”, “Täydellisin”, “Satama”, “Tässä on kaikki”, and “Luotan tulevaan”.
Rating: 7/10
- Tuuli TalvinenFounder & Editor-in-ChiefInterviewer