JARKKO MARTIKAINEN

The word "entertainer" feels a bit trivial when we are trying to describe the singer-songwriter-guitarist Jarkko Martikainen and the effect of his music on his listeners. On the other hand, the word "thinker" is too pompous, too dusty, too honourable. Let us, then, call Mr Martikainen a "disconcerter". His music is entertaining, yes, but at the same time more than a bit disturbing, setting one think about the ways of this greedy world in a slightly altered way.

Jarkko Martikainen's solo albums (of which the latest is the brilliant Rakkaus, 2006) serve their musical content in a notably less startling manner than the hectic, jumpy releases of his band YUP. One could even talk about slyness here. And as YUP has been, for some mystical reason, constantly compared with Jethro Tull, so let us compare Jarkko Martikainen with Ian Anderson: a man who looks a lot like a down-and-out on the street corner, but who can sing, and who knows more about many things than he lets his looks reveal. A lot, lot more.

www.levy-yhtio.com/martikainen
myspace.com/jarkkomartikainen

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