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Alba Records

About this release

Ensemble Gamut piloted by Aino Peltomaa! has quickly become one of Finland's most interesting bands that move smoothly between genres. The band has created its unique sound by combining elements from medieval music, Finnish folk tunes, improvisation, own compositions and electronic soundscapes.
The name MI refers to the arctic flower Micranthes stellaris, and to Peltomaa's composition Mieli meni. MI is also the third note of the Gamut scale (ut, re, mi).
The album's theme is arctic endangered flower plants and the inner levels that spring from them. In addition to the flower-themed tunes of medieval powerhouses Hildegard Bingeniläinen and Birgitta Birgerintyttäre, Aino Peltomaa's new compositions and lyrics bring the immaterial and material eras of our living environment and home together. Already lost, found again. Saved, destroyed, lost, found, recovered.
On this album, Peltomaa and Ensemble Gamut! have invited sound artist Tuomas Norvio and visual artist Vappu Rossi as their guests, and we get to enjoy new kinds of live electronics possibilities with this release. Norvio effects the sounds of Vappu Ross drawing in real time, so that the tunes and drawings inspired by arctic flowers merge into a sound world where the levels of time, the living, the dead, history, this moment, the past and the future all resonate at the same time.
Ensemble Gamut!:
Aino Peltomaa | singing, medieval harp, kantele, percussion, artistic leadership
Ilkka Heinonen | choir, vocals, electronics
Juho Myllylä | recorders, vocals, electronics
Tuomas Norvio | live electronics
May Day Rossi | live drawing

Tracks

  1. 1.Micranthes stellariscomp. Aino Peltomaa · lyrics Aino Peltomaa
  2. 2.Karitas / Jää (Leinikille)comp. Aino Peltomaa · lyrics Hildegard von Bingen, Aino Peltomaa
  3. 3.Mieli meni / Hodie aperuitcomp. Aino Peltomaa · lyrics Aino Peltomaa, Hildegard von Bingen
  4. 4.Unifloracomp. Vappu Rossi, Tuomas Norvio, Aino Peltomaa · lyrics Aino Peltomaa
  5. 5.Stabat mater dolorosacomp. Aino Peltomaa · lyrics Dominican Gradual
  6. 6.Stabat matercomp. Aino Peltomaa · lyrics Dominican Gradual
  7. 7.Sicut spinarumcomp. Aino Peltomaa · lyrics Bridgettine Chant
  8. 8.Diabolus sylvarumcomp. Aino Peltomaa · lyrics Aino Peltomaa
  9. 9.Tuutulaulu pikkulehdokillecomp. Aino Peltomaa · lyrics Aino Peltomaa
  10. 10.O frondens virgacomp. Hildegard von Bingen · arr. Ensemble Gamut!
  11. 11.Käärmeen luku / Latuit in blandocomp. Aino Peltomaa · lyrics Bridgettine Chant, Ilkka Heinonen, Trad. · arr. Ensemble Gamut!
  12. 12.O viridissima virgacomp. Aino Peltomaa · lyrics Hildegard von Bingen
  13. 13.Virtacomp. Aino Peltomaa · lyrics Aino Peltomaa

Reviews

  • MI-levyllä on kaikki edellytykset vuoden levyksi, kategoriaa vain on hankala valita. Mutta genret ovat olemassa rikottavaksi. Musiikki värähtelee toivoa ja uskoa elämään, kaikesta huolimatta ”Elämä virtaaa lävitseni – O viridissima virga”, ja paras paikka on äiti maan uutta luova syli.

    Kulttuuritoimitus, 18.6.2025 · Marja Mustakallio

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  • Bedrohte arktische Blumen und sinnliche Klangdüfte

    Muziek met een boodschap

    In a world where the aesthetic of Hans Zimmer soundtracks has infused so much music, it’s refreshing to hear musicians deliberately shying away from big dramatic climaxes when the music could easily be done that way.  Mi  is a moment of calm in the midst of a world that’s mostly too busy for such things.

    28.9.2025, Exposé Online · Jon Davis

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Details

Catalogue number
ABLP 2
EAN
6429811264076
Recording year
2024
Release year
2025
Format
Vinyl

Categories

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