Finnish band HUMINOITA was formed back in 2009, and released their debut album the following year. They describe themselves as a band consisting of five musicians (and sometimes more), and appears to be more prolific as a live band than as a recording one. “All Is Two” is their second full length album, and was released through Finnish label Luova Records at the start of 2015.
It is easy to hear that this is a band with a fascination for many aspect of music, but they have chosen to hone in on what might be described as a psychedelic stoner rock sound of the vintage variety, as in more psychedelic than most stoner bands. Not in a flamboyant or dramatic manner, but carefully and with subtle ease.
Hard, booming vintage era guitar riffs is a key and prominent feature in most compositions, as are delicate echoing guitar details, gnarly but brittle riffs and psychedelic tinged and soaked guitar solo runs. A nervous electric piano finds it’s way into the proceedings here and there, as do careful organ textures and nonverbal, layered backing vocals either soft or with a more chant-like expression. The saxophone makes some occasional visits too, and in one instance the flute is brought in to add an earthy, folky vibe to the proceedings.
Expanding the stylistic landscapes ever so slightly are textured guitar layers that adds a slight touch of post-rock to the proceedings, here and there some jazz-oriented instrument details will be tossed in too. The ebb and flow in intensity that is a clear tendency throughout also makes me suspect that these compositions does feature some improvised tendencies. Either de facto, or material developed in improvised runs that have later been developed and recorded proper.
It’s difficult for me to define this album in a more precise manner than vintage, stoner-oriented psychedelic rock. Mainly instrumental at that, with occasional post-rock and jazz flavors brought to the table, and with an organic flow that does inspire associations towards material of at least a partially improvised nature. Those who find this description to be interesting are well advised to give it a spin.
Overall: 80/100
