Instead of remaining confined to a digital-only existence, Pariisin Kevät transformed into one of the most popular bands in their home country, etching their name into the history of Finnish music with hits like “Pikku Huopalahti,” “Tämän kylän poikii,” “Kesäyö,” “Saari,” “Odotus,” and... “Haamupuhelu” from the Musta laatikko album.

The album leaves plenty of room for light, atmospheric tracks. “Vapaus saa odottaa” (“Freedom Can Wait”) opens the record, setting the tone for the entire sound design. In this song, Arto sings about beating the drum to drive away demons and evil spirits while blood boils, emotions overflow, and the heart threatens to burst and release a fossilized song. Immersing oneself in these lyrics truly evokes a sense of oneness with wild nature and a total detachment from reality. A similar vibe carries over into the bold track “Ennen oli hevosia” (“There Used to Be Horses Here”), which is steeped in nostalgia for a bygone era. The lyrics paint a picture of a past when there were still horses, men shook hands, and order prevailed alongside iconic fixtures like Kekkonen, Mieto, vodka, and Christ—contrasting sharply with a modern world defined by plastic beauty and broken human promises.

For the most part, however, the album's sound immerses itself in a nostalgic melancholy, setting the direction for nearly every indie band that would emerge in Finland after it. It is worth noting that Pariisin Kevät's lyrics are one of the band's greatest strengths. They are simultaneously complex and simple, at times ephemeral and convoluted, yet they can often be felt deeply with the heart, allowing listeners to uncover hidden meanings and experience the journey alongside the band. In the song “Jokin työntää kohti reunaa” (“Something Pushes Closer to the Edge”), the lyrics warn against biting too hard when kissing and laughing right after an argument, reminding the listener that Satan hears everything anyway and is making a move toward them.

Musta laatikko is an attempt to reflect on the difficulty of relationships (for instance, being deaf to one's own words, hearing only the sound of the wind, and having everything that cannot be spoken or believed written all over one's face in the enchanting “Outoja aikeita,” as well as how pure love can only be touched for a fleeting moment because the end could come at any time in the melancholic “Jättiläinen”), the importance of choices (what one would do if attacked, whether one could stand up again, and whether happiness is a relief or a weight around the neck in “Muuli”), and even meditation and Zen (starting to dance upon feeling warmth, sensing the movement of the earth's crust beneath one's feet, and opening up to something that is coming while mantras are being sung behind one's back in the hypnotizing “Voimakivet”).

I consider two songs to be the true treasures of the album, namely “Hän saapuu luokseni pimeydessä” (She Comes to Me in the Darkness) and “Haamupuhelu” (Ghost Call), both of which captivate not only with their stunning sound but also with the visuals in their music videos directed by Herra Ylppö. “Hän saapuu luokseni pimeydessä” is a song possessing incredible power, drive, and despair, while “Haamupuhelu,” in turn, feels cheerful and uniquely positive, standing in sharp contrast to the tragedy of the former track. Through images of abandoned parks, newly built houses where nobody lives, fabricated memories, lights that constantly fade when turning around, and doubts about one's past presence or even existence there, alongside the thought that the world looks completely different when looking at it for the last time, it becomes clear that “Haamupuhelu” is deeper than it appears at first glance. In reality, this song is an attempt to contemplate how a loved one will live after your death and whether you will manage to meet again. The lyrics urge the partner to promise that they will feel it, even if no words are spoken, when the narrator disappears and makes a ghost call, breaking through the veil.

The penultimate song on the album, “Yölento” (Night Flight), is a dreamlike track full of tranquility, resembling a short but deeply pleasant dream made even more enjoyable by Arto's vocals. In it, he sings about being so alike and knowing someone despite never having met before, promising to meet them under the cover of night and lead the way.

Ultimately, Musta laatikko truly is a “black box,” a flight data recorder that narrates many stories interwoven into a single narrative that cuts straight to the heart. If you want to listen to something touching, candid, and gripping, where you can uncover your own personal meanings, Musta laatikko is the perfect choice.

Rating: 10/10