Biography

Antero Mentu's solo album Näin unta kaukaisesta maasta is an ethereal tribute to Finnish culture.

Näin unta kaukaisesta maasta takes listeners on a meditative journey, bearing many stylistic similarities to guitarist Antero Mentu's previous works. The album offers artistic surrealism and lightness. The subtly new atmospheric pieces harmonize beautifully with the journey created by the six accompanying paintings.

Mentu explains the theme of the album: "The idea of the album is not to connect specific tracks to particular paintings. Instead, it allows space for listeners to create their own stories and interpretations between sound and image."

Each track on the album, all titled Unia, is inspired by impressions made from paintings, and Mentu gives listeners the freedom to interpret each track for themselves. The songs reveal layers of a fascinating dream world, where playfulness and elegance intertwine.

The physical release includes a booklet introducing the paintings that inspired the album:

Maria Wiik: In the Church (1866)
Hugo Simberg: Dance on the Bridge (1899)
Ellen Thesleff: Pine Trees in the Park of Villa Borghese (1898)
Petri Seppä: Self Portrait (2018)
Sonja Lehto: What a Treat You Have on Your Plate (2022)
Jan Neva: Door (2022)

The album draws influences from ambient music to Scandinavian folk music, from krautrock to the classical music tradition of North India. In addition to Mentu, the album features percussion by Amanda Blomqvist, shakuhachi and percussion by Otto Eskelinen, flute by Markus Pajakkala, and double bass by Jesper Anastasiadis.

Näin unta kaukaisesta maasta is a tribute to creativity and artistic sophistication. The music on the album is commendable on its own, but reaches new heights when combined with the visual art from which it drew its inspiration.

Tracklist

1. Unia I 
2. Unia II 
3. Unia III 
4. Unia IV 
5. Unia V 
6. Unia VI