Finland, 2005, experimental rock / art rock

Tuomari Nurmio & Alamaailman Vasarat – Kinaporin kalifaatti: I was already a huge fan of the hammers of the underworld, so this collaboration making its way into my collection is a no-brainer. It’s interesting to hear the differences and yet detect how many things stay the same. The biggest difference, of course, is the vocals. They exist. Alamaailman Vasarat is pretty much an instrumental band, but here they are collaborating with, what a couple people I’ve read have called, the Finnish Tom Waits. Being a huge Tom Waits fan, I nitpick and disagree, but I guess the comparison gets the point across about a gruff, quirky, manly vocalist. The klezmer elements are present yet more muted in this album.