Sonic Migration

The Subsonic Trio brings together musicians from Brazil, Finland and Australia – no longer such a surprise in our globalised existence. All three of them vocalise, with Adriano Adewale on scattered percussion, Kristiina Ilmonen blowing mostly wooden flutes, and Nathan Riki Thomson concentrating on upright bass, augmented by kalimba (thumb piano) and further flutes. Helsinki was the location of the recording session, while the compositions are mostly originals, with even the traditional Finnish folk tunes heavily indebted to the trio's individual interpretations. Subsonic Trio's music is divided equally between the atmospheric evocation of imaginary jungle depths and a more spirited, exclamatory ritualised music-making. These moods virtually alternate, although fresh sonic vocabularies are constantly employed, given the versatility of the players. ‘Kesäyö/Summer Night’ has a subtle ambience, with soft flute, bowed bass and slithering brush-sticks, before Adewale suddenly calls out, invoking the spirits in a manner not unlike that of his countryman Nana Vasconcelos. There's a tense bass/drum build-up during ‘Migration of the Night Birds’, with whispered vocal exchanges steadily intensifying, turning into panting, then chanting. ‘Krannin Prunnista’ has a propulsive beat from the pandeiro (drum), and fast-tongued flute, moving into a heavier bass riff, reaching its peak with a four-string thrash, hyperventilating pipes and madly chittering vocals.