Burntfield - Hereafter

“Burntfield” are a young Finnish band who, despite the extensive home based recording success of many of their fellow rock band contemporaries’ have decided to set up their career setting in Amsterdam, Holland. One presumes that they, or their manager had carried out such thorough research necessary to ensure that this was the most sensible decision in terms of future remuneration and fan base popularity. Nothing to do with me of course but it seems a slightly strange move.

With respect to the music and right from the off, this is indeed a romantically persuasive album absolutely saturated to the brim with gentle and well-rehearsed silky smooth vocal arrangements that are in turn served up within a plethora of equally sedate beautifully assembled guitar and keyboard flavorings. Quite amazingly one could, at times, be tricked into thinking that before you was assembled a preverbal male choir as the extensive multi-part harmonies are so rich and stylish with what could often be described as a somewhat ‘soul - like’ delivery. Most impressive too are the extensive range of intricate melody lines which combined quite exquisitely both the instrumental and vocal facets of the compositions. Certainly, from this aspect, the whole range of musical arrangements are beautifully interlaced throughout with textures of voice and subtle instrumental interplay and in doing so creating a range of different emotions and as a consequence conjuring up different atmospheric images in your mind as you swathe and immerse yourself within the full flow of the music.

This is definitely not, in any respect, an aggressive rock album although there are some exciting moments when the pace of the music takes off with much gusto. Generally the interest lies in the solid subtle progression of melodic charm and way that it integrates within the framework of the music. The thing is that the more you listen to this album the more you become deeply enchanted and enraptured by the majesty and splendor of the whole affair and in fact realizing that listening to this album can be achieved on two levels. Firstly and superficially as a set of nicely constructed romantic stylized tunes and then secondly with much more of a (headphone) concentrated intensity amassing the various elemental combinations of voice and instrumental brilliance to conclude that this indeed is a special album which would grace any serious music collection.

Summary: A collection of beautifuly arranged songs with nice vocal harmonies and excellent musicianship throughout.

Artwork: Hard to comment here as promo was unaccompanied. Cover photo therefore retrieved from internet. Track information printed directly onto CD.

Line Up:

Juho Myllyla (vocals/guitar), Valtteri Seppanen (guitar/vocals)
Maarten Vos (bass) Steven Favier (drums).
Plus guest appearances by keyboardist Arttu Vauhkonen (Arion), string quintet ANSoS and kantele artist Aurora Visa.