Monday, May 06, 2002

[Macro error: Can't call the script because the name "amazon" hasn't been defined.] She really does. She says, in fact, "They are so cool, they are really SOOOO cool." And they are. The Bonzo household has just acquired the Live in Helsinki album that the group recorded in December of 2000, and it's a definite winner. The opening bit, "Aijo", has vocal gymnastics in it that remind us strongly of some of Diamanda Galas's ouvre. (We're not sure that either Varttina or Galas would like the comparison, but we're not sure they wouldn't, either.)  (Amazon, bless their hearts, have an MP3 of the song available here, but it's off of their studio album Ilmatar, and we find that we really prefer the live version.  If you've got the bandwidth, go to the group's own web site, http://www.varttina.com/, and check out the video that they've got from the live performance of Aijo.) What boggles Dr. Bonzo's mind is that his five-year-old, little SweetPea Bonzo, is absolutely fascinated by Varttina and their music.  She woke up this morning and immediately asked (a) to listen to the album and then (b) to watch the "Aijo" video twice.  We just don't get it -- the fascination with obscure Nordic music is supposed to be an adult Bonzo obsession. Our only regret, at this point, is that there isn't a DVD of the entire live performance available. We'd get it at the drop of an Inquisitorial hat. 7:57:03 AM