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by Alex Cosper September 29, 2017 see other sponsored reviews GEA says that the album is a "personal journey" of moving toward growth and hopes it will inspire people to become more aware of the organic world around them. Her real name is Laura Avonius and she's been playing piano since age six. The theme of how resisting growth leads to unhappiness is one of the album's undertones. Despite the deep lyrical theme of the album, the soft vocal melodies and subtle production are what stand out throughout the collection. The lyrics are obscured by intense emphasis on an elegant vocal style. Musically, it's a mix of modern musical exploration and traditional Finnish folk music. Some people may put GEA's music in the same category as Florence + The Machine or Kate Bush. The music creates an ambient atmosphere with minimal electronics. GEA sings and plays piano with help from musicians Mikko H Haapoja (electronics, strings, keyboards, bass, background vocals), Matti Pitkanen (drums, vibraphone) and Mikko Kangas (flugelhorn, trumpet). Haapoja was also the album's producer. The video for the song "Alone" has led to screenings at several film festivals, including WILLiFEST September 16th and WNY Film, Art and Music Event (FAME) on September 17th. The video is full of beautiful desert, mountain and other nature imagery. The melody stays in the range of high tones and articulates a sense of suspense. The song "Pink" is the official soundtrack of the Social Machinery Film Festival in Toronto. The song was released on her debut EP of the same name in April 2017. It's the second track on the album following the opening tuneful track "Follower." The emotional sound of "Pink" is built on rich vocals over soft percussion and ethereal instrumentation. The video has a strange moment that adds to the puzzle when it displays a hand-written note that says "there is no Finnish police here to help psycho-women." On the album "Pink" is followed by "Friendship Hoax," which is characterized by a riff of high keys. A light opera influence can be found throughout the collection's vocals. "Little Detail" is yet another song with a nice melody but obscure lyrics. "Wind" has a more raw feel in which the lyrics are more audible and the emotion is easy to decode, as the arrangement is very soft and relies on singular piano notes. "Steps Out of Sight" brings back strings and other classical elements. "Real You and Me" takes a different turn into unique vocal harmony. "Enemy" is a song about identifying someone as the source of misery, yet it still has a soft tranquil feel. The overall sound of Butterflies is original and does not fall into the category of predictable formulas. The title track solidifies the album as an underground niche gem, and does not attempt to offer a single track for commercial radio. It's music, however, that can easily fit on public radio. Even though the messages are hard to decipher lyrically, the music and production does a good job telling the story of a journey toward enlightenment. It's a strong album because it creates a curious atmosphere and works as a vehicle for relaxation. The above review is sponsored by Independent Music Promotions. It is written by Alex Cosper, who gives honest opinions, based on years in the radio industry of making decisions on the commercial value of music, along with opinions as a musician and music fan. Bio information is provided by the source that represents the artist. These reviews are meant to be descriptions of the artists and music to help individuals interested in exploring independent music gain broader perspectives on these professionally promoted artists. For more information on this artist or getting music reviewed, contact James Moore at: james@independentmusicpromotions.com © Playlist Research. All rights reserved. |