Polku is the fifth studio album of Finnish singer/songwriter Marja Mattlar. She debuted in 1993 with the album Pariisi–Vuorenkylä, and has since worked with different musicians on each album. On this one, she has chosen for the modern folk sounds of Tenhi, recruiting Tyko Saarikko and Ilmari Issakainen on various instruments, and for the production. The work was also recorded and produced in Tenhi's own Utustudio. This cooperation has put a big mark on the album, mostly in terms of sound, which is quite similar to the latest recordings by Tenhi. The music remains unique, however, as Marja is responsible for writing the lyrics and music.

Marja writes gentle songs, often with a melancholic or dark touch. The lyrics are beautiful, dealing with a range of subjects: difficulty of human communication and relation, the relationship between yourself and time, and things lost. And often the connection between man and nature, in various ways. Thankfully, the booklet contains a full English translation of all lyrics. It can be extremely satisfying to just listen to Marja sing it all in Finnish, though, even if you can't understand it. To me, Finnish is one of the foreign languages that sounds most poetic, especially when sung.

Marja herself plays guitar and sings, but the guest musicians add a great deal to the musical palette. Tyko and Ilmari add many of the main instruments from Tenhi: drums, bass, piano, but also things like harmonium and synth. Then there are touches of violin (Inka Eerola) and cello (Unna Kemppainen), and finally some kantele (Eveliina Kontio) and oboe (Aila Hettula). All these instruments add exactly the right touches, without cluttering the music.

Now something about the songs. It's (once more) difficult to pick any particular highlights on a great album like this, but let's give it a shot. The opening track is calm and moody, an ode to nighttime in nature. It's based on vocals, guitar, piano, strings, and a delicate touch of kantele. "Peili" is a beautiful, fragile track about how the same mirror can reveal both beautiful and horrible sides of the onlooker. "Kuin Taivaissa" and "Pinnan Alla" are very good elaborate tracks that are perhaps closest to the musical style of Tenhi. Also very good is the role of the piano in "Ajan Vartija". The album ends with the very strong "Mikä Jää". A long track based a a single captivating and melancholic melody richly worked out by many instruments. A crown on an already very good album.

There are really no reasons why you shouldn't check out this excellent album if you are into contemplative singer/songwriter music or modern and alternative approaches to folk music. The artwork and booklet are also great, as you can see from the cover of painted birches and the profile of Marja's face. Fans of Tenhi would also do well to get a hold of this album.

O.S.