Uniko
Kronos Quartet · Kimmo Pohjonen, accordion & voice · Samuli Kosminen, string & accordion samples, programming
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Kimmo Pohjonen
Sensitive Skin
Inka Pohjonen, accordion
Tuomas Norvio, electronics
Kronos Quartet
Samuli Kosminen, drums, percussion
Timo Kämäräinen, drums, bouzouki
Sami Kuoppamäki, drums
Saana Pohjonen, vocals
Saana Pohjonen, vocals
Arto Järvelä, nyckelharpa
Ismo Alanko, vocals
Lauri Porra, bass
Track listing
9 tracks · 46:37Listen to samples on selected tracks.
Kimmo Pohjonen
- 1 Cyclon 4:14
- 2 Lamina 4:28
- 3 Sulo 5:09
- 4 Anemone 4:43
- 5 Emissio 6:16
- 6 Atomi 4:47
- 7 Serenity 5:36
- 8 Ramsoo (co-composer Ismo Alanko) 6:06
- 9 Sensitive Skin 5:18
About this recording
Award-winning Finnish accordionist, composer, adventurist Kimmo Pohjonen releases his new album Sensitive Skin on Ondine's Octopus label. The album appears on Ondine's sub-label Octopus and follows the successful Uniko album (ODE 1185-2) with Kronos Quartet and Samuli Kosminen.
Sensitive Skin features new Pohjonen compositions exploring dynamic, new sonic territory with special guests Kronos Quartet (string quartet), Tuomas Norvio (electronics), Samuli Kosminen (drums, percussion), Timo Kämäräinen (guitar, bouzouki), Sami Kuoppamäki (drums), Arto Järvelä (nyckelharpa), Inka and Saana Pohjonen (vocals), Ismo Alanko (vocals) and Lauri Porra (bass). Sensitive Skin was produced by James Spectrum, known for his work with Finnish bands Von Hertzen Brothers and Pepe Deluxe.
Kimmo Pohjonen has this to say: "This is the first album where I had enough time to plan and record at a comfortable pace and in my own studio, allowing the music to emerge more organically and exactly as I wanted. Additionally, the vocal contributions by my daughters were a big influence on the way the music and album were shaped, created and arranged. I am more than satisfied, even thrilled with the results."
The documentary film about Kimmo Pohjonen, Soundbreaker, directed by Kimmo Koskela, premiered in 2012 and has been shown in over thirty countries. It was well received in Germany, shown in over fifty cinemas. Soundbreaker has been released on DVD and is available as iTunes app.
Kimmo Pohjonen received the Pro Finlandia Medal in 2012 and he was also nominated for the Nordic Council's Music Prize in 2013 and again in 2015. Kimmo Pohjonen has performed in hundreds of world music, rock, contemporary and classical music festivals and venues worldwide with numerous projects.
Upcoming shows:
Sept 29: Helsinki, Finland - Savoy Theatre (Sensitive Skin release concert)
Oct 3: Espoo, Finland - Sellosali (Sensitive Skin release concert)
Oct 13: Ljubljana, Slovenia - Cankarjev Dom (Uniko with Proton String Quartet)
Nov 8: ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Netherlands - Verkadefabriek - Grote Zaal Theatre (Uniko with Ragazze String Quartet)
Dec 7: Vienna, Austria - Wien Konzerthaus (Uniko with Proton String Quartet)
Feb 2: Luxembourg, Luxembourg Philharmonie (Uniko with Proton String Quartet)
April 23: Budapest, Hungary - Budapest Spring Festival, MUPA (Bright Shadow)
"In the hands of avant-accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen, the mechanical intricacies of his instrument become agents of a great musical power, grace and expression. An instrumental virtuoso, Pohjonen has exploited the complete potential of the keys, buttons, and air beneath his fingers by stretching both his instrument and personal performance capabilities. He has been stretching boundaries and defying expectations for more than a decade, with mind-blowing concepts and visual performances. As a fearless adventurer in music, he remains doggedly unaffiliated to any scene, trend or ethos" (All About Jazz)
The artists
Kronos Quartet
For more than 30 years, San Francisco's Kronos Quartet - David Harrington, John Sherba (violins), Hank Dutt (viola) and Jeffrey Zeigler (cello) - has pursued a singular artistic vision, combining a spirit of fearless exploration with a commitment to expanding the range and context of the string quartet. In the process, Kronos has become one of the most celebrated and influential ensembles of our time, performing thousands of concerts worldwide, releasing more than 45 recordings of extraordinary breadth and creativity, collaborating with many of the world's most eclectic composers and performers, and commissioning more than 700 new works and arrangements for string quartet. Kronos' work has also garnered numerous awards, including a GRAMMY for Best Chamber Music Performance (2004) and "Musicians of the Year" (2003) from Musical America.