Riverland is a Finnish duo consisting of Mikko Heino (Minutian) on vocals and Roni Seppänen (Tracedawn, Devil I Know) on guitar. Their music could well be described as modern acoustic pop with a hint of progressive rock and psychedelia. The band names Marillion, Rush, Johnny Cash, Pariisin Kevät and Tapio Rautavaara, among others, as their influences. This is their debut album, and is a really pleasant, if fairly subdued, acoustic album. I can see where Steve Hogarth-era Marillion may play a part in their music, and Rush have had the odd acoustic song, but I don’t get Johnny Cash at all. His music is way more abrupt with lots of passion whereas this music feels like it would collapse if pushed too hard as it is just so fragile.
One thing that really surprised me is the length of this album, which is being portrayed as being full-length but it is only seven songs and a fraction over 21 minutes in length. Just as I was starting to get into it, the album had finished, which seems quite strange. Anyway, it is possible to go to their site and stream the whole thing before purchase so why not give it a try? Just go to www.riverland.fi and see what you think.
