Tango in Cheek

By Gareth Cornfield

There are certain styles of music that are inextricably linked with a geographical location. Bagra could only come from the Indian sub-continent, Oompah brass bands from Bavaria.

Tango is as strongly linked with Argentina as Evita, Corned Beef & wanting the Falklands (Malvinas) back. It is therefore almost the definition of culture shock to have a tango performer from Finland.

However, JOHANNA JUHOLA, together with her backing band, REAKTORI, is a delight.

They were at the Pontardawe Arts Centre (http://www.pontardaweartscentre.com/) on Wednesday 24th April as part of the Making Tracks tour. “Making Tracks is a fresh concept in programming on the British live music circuit launched in fall 2010. A travelling season of concerts bringing the newest and most exciting music from around the globe to a local setting in partnership with some of the best music venues in the UK.” (from their website http://www.makingtrackslive.org.uk/# ) Pontardawe is one of their regular venues and has showcased music from around the world. I recommend checking out the tours. The cost is minimal, £9 last night (concessions available). The variety of music on offer is stunning. It is a means for performers to get their music to as many people as possible and for audiences to see as wide a variety as they can. Without the overarching support of making tracks, many of the artists would not find it financially viable to tour. We would miss out on some absolute gems.

As can be seen from the accompanying photographs, the band enjoys defying convention. They entered the stage dressed in costumes that were a cross between Finnish pixie and space cadet. Bright turquoise- green knickerbockers with red accents. You knew you were in for a fun evening, and so it transpired.

Some in the audience had spoken of dancing. You could have, if not transfixed by the performance. I, for one, sat enthralled. The music was a swirling mix of passionate tango and Finnish folk. The band played an unusual mix of traditional and not so traditional instruments. Johanna played a Lasse Pihlajamaa Lady accordion and a Lasse Pihlajamaa Timangi accordion, both of them 5-row chromatic button accordions. MILLA VILJAMAA was excellent on Grand piano and Harmonium, pumping the harmonium with gusto and a wide smile. SARA PULJULA played Double Bass and they both supplied vocal accompaniment. On electronic percussion & programming was TUOMAS NORVIO. The percussion was from a small board, barely a foot square that had all of the sounds programmed in, together with samples. Loops, effects and the visuals were also controlled from this hi-tech piece of wizardry. For there were samples of Argentinean Tango singers, a Finnish rapper and others used to enhance the music, also a visual backdrop, used sparingly, to illustrate the music, such as when they played a piece that they hoped would be used for an arcade tango dance video game!

All of the music was composed by Johanna. In Finland she is well known and was commissioned to compose the opening music for the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest. She has also been composing for the screen, including a tango that was intended to be used as a backing for a scene. Johanna’s music does not, however,go in the background. She apologises that it was unsuccessful for the film, but was a great tune. Johanna’s cheeky, elfin beauty lights the stage. The entire band were so obviously enjoying performing for us that it made it a special occasion.

This lightness of touch and humour was greatly appreciated by the select audience who were privileged to be there.

Two sets sped by, and the night was over far too soon. The band left the stage to great acclaim and returned for an encore. This was a frenetic composition,whereJohanna explained that there was no stopping for breath. Entirely appropriate as we were left breathless by the dazzling display of joyous music. bought their new album and look forward to seeing them again.

This was definitely a Tango in Cheek performance.

photos courtesey of www.johannajuhola.net