sat 07/12/2024

Albums of the Year: Mikko Joensuu - Amen 1 | reviews, news & interviews

Albums of the Year: Mikko Joensuu - Amen 1

Albums of the Year: Mikko Joensuu - Amen 1

Crisis of faith suffuses Finnish singer-songwriter’s debut solo album with an extraordinary intensity

On his own, on the cover of 'Amen 1', Mikko Joensuu reflects on the nature of his faith

Five new albums released over the year have dominated 2016: Marissa Nadler’s Strangers (May), Mikko Joensuu’s Amen 1 (June), Jessica Sligter’s A Sense of Growth (July), Arc Iris’s Moon Saloon (August) and Wolf People’s Ruins (November). Next year, it’s likely Foxygen’s Hang (out in January) will be amongst those doing the same.

But Amen 1 is the one casting the darkest, longest and most inescapable shadow. One defined by an overarching sense that this is an unfiltered expression of emotion. What’s heard is what was felt. Marrying this to a classic melodic sensibility in the Jimmy Webb neighbourhood ensures the songs are accessible. Underpinning them with sparse string arrangements and a nod to Fred Neil’s approach to country brings further impact. Amen 1 showcases a voice questioning whether it is possible to be re-accepted by God after faith had been surrendered. This is no text-book testifying but commentary on a very real crisis of belief. An intense missive from the soul, Amen 1 is not about individual tracks but the album overall: it is a suite. It is also integral to Amen 2 and Amen 3, the albums which will follow.

In a previous guise, Finland’s Mikko Joensuu had form. His band Joensuu 1685 issued one, eponymous album in 2008. It was undercooked and underproduced, but they were astonishingly powerful live and took Neu! and Spiritualised to places they had never been. A 2010 single (a version of Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire”) caught the power. Then, in 2011, there was the astounding 16-minute single “Lost Highway”, recorded before the band split. His bandmates and (apparent) brothers Markus and Risto formed Sinaii but, beyond playing with singer-songwriter Manna, Mikko disappeared. Amen 1 is his return.

Two More Essential Albums from 2016

Arc Iris – Moon Saloon

Wolf People – Ruins

Gig of the Year

Träd, Gräs och Stenar, Café Oto, London, 10 September 2016

Track of the Year

Marissa Nadler – “Janie in Love”

Overleaf: watch the video for “Janie in Love” by Marissa Nadler

Five new albums released over the year have dominated 2016: Marissa Nadler’s Strangers (May), Mikko Joensuu’s Amen 1 (June), Jessica Sligter’s A Sense of Growth (July), Arc Iris’s Moon Saloon (August) and Wolf People’s Ruins (November). Next year, it’s likely Foxygen’s Hang (out in January) will be amongst those doing the same.

But Amen 1 is the one casting the darkest, longest and most inescapable shadow. One defined by an overarching sense that this is an unfiltered expression of emotion. What’s heard is what was felt. Marrying this to a classic melodic sensibility in the Jimmy Webb neighbourhood ensures the songs are accessible. Underpinning them with sparse string arrangements and a nod to Fred Neil’s approach to country brings further impact. Amen 1 showcases a voice questioning whether it is possible to be re-accepted by God after faith had been surrendered. This is no text-book testifying but commentary on a very real crisis of belief. An intense missive from the soul, Amen 1 is not about individual tracks but the album overall: it is a suite. It is also integral to Amen 2 and Amen 3, the albums which will follow.

In a previous guise, Finland’s Mikko Joensuu had form. His band Joensuu 1685 issued one, eponymous album in 2008. It was undercooked and underproduced, but they were astonishingly powerful live and took Neu! and Spiritualised to places they had never been. A 2010 single (a version of Springsteen’s “I’m on Fire”) caught the power. Then, in 2011, there was the astounding 16-minute single “Lost Highway”, recorded before the band split. His bandmates and (apparent) brothers Markus and Risto formed Sinaii but, beyond playing with singer-songwriter Manna, Mikko disappeared. Amen 1 is his return.

Two More Essential Albums from 2016

Arc Iris – Moon Saloon

Wolf People – Ruins

Gig of the Year

Träd, Gräs och Stenar, Café Oto, London, 10 September 2016

Track of the Year

Marissa Nadler – “Janie in Love”

Overleaf: watch the video for “Janie in Love” by Marissa Nadler

Add comment

The future of Arts Journalism

 

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

newsletter

Get a weekly digest of our critical highlights in your inbox each Thursday!

Simply enter your email address in the box below

View previous newsletters