Siniaalto ~ Finland

Tallentumia (2004)

---Mar 2005

Tallentumia is Siniaalto's second album, and represents a unique twist on the retro electronic sound. There are some Berlin School sequences of course, but more emphasis is paid on atmospheric keys, including novelties for the genre like processed Fender Rhodes. It’s as if Siniaalto wanted to explore every avenue from Tangerine Dream’s Phaedra album, to the point of exhaustion perhaps. Many sections go for long periods of time, making this not one of the easier electronic albums to digest in one setting. All the same, a strong entry for the genre, if a bit different.

Ownership: 2004 If Society (CD). Digipak. Acquired in 2005.

3//05 (review)

Siniaalto (2002)

---Jul 2006

Finnish trio Siniaalto (Sine Wave) can trace their musical heritage back to an earlier electronic music era, primarily Tangerine Dream circa Phaedra. A full array of keyboards, both analog and digital, are on display here. Though it’s the good old Rhodes piano, heavily echoed and treated, that truly gives their debut album an early 1970s feel. I could swear there is a Mini-Moog in play as well, but it’s not listed. The general modus operandi for each composition is to start out by creating a dark atmosphere followed by a plodding, low pitched, sequence. This is then followed by the group adding a series of alien sounds, of which the most notable is the treated Rhodes piano as mentioned prior. There are only four tracks, clocking in at close to an hour, so plenty of room for meditative listening. A good start from a promising band in the ever increasing fold of groups performing in the Berlin School style of electronic music.

Former ownership: 2002 If Society (CD). Digipak with recording details and photos. Acquired in 2004. Downsized in 2026.

2004; 7/30/06 (review); 5/11/15; 6/17/26

10/14/15 (new entry)