ORANSSI PAZUZU
YOUTUBE LIVE
Finnish mesmerists blast their new album into space
ANYONE WONDERING
WHETHER a streamed performance can capture the magic of being there should spend an hour slackjawed and spellbound in front of their laptop with this: blackened psych space voyagers Oranssi Pazuzu heading beyond the stars as they tear through their latest album – the career-best Mestarin Kynsi. Shot in tasteful black-and-white for opener Ilmestys, the band merge reptilian gurgles with krautrock hypnotism, slowly building towards torrential waves of cosmic power. Before you quite know what’s happened, the picture has blossomed into full colour and the band have dragged you in like the wispy, stinging tentacles of some beautiful but malevolent alien lifeform, with plush synth work swaddling everything from immense wonky riffs and breathless howls to a bout of strange, trombone-enabled drone.
Sporadic visual FX are deployed, from flashes of slightly hokey lightning to shots of an unblinking bloodshot eye that could’ve rolled straight from a Japanese horror film. While admittedly light-touch, these elements serve to complement the overall oddness of Oranssi’s music, the curious tapestry of which sees burbling electronics,
dissonant chords and strange chittering noises coalesce to take glowering, majestic shape. Highlights are almost too numerous to mention, but include the incredulous screams of Uusi Teknokratia, the hypnotic bop of the standout Kuulen Ääniä Maan Alta and the relentless, cathartic clamour of album closer Taivaan Portti, which carries such a sense of finality about it that it could feasibly soundtrack the implosion of some distant star.
While capable of moving from terrifying to danceable with neuronrewiring fluidity, the band give little away beyond straining tendons, sweaty brows and strobe-lit tufts of facial hair. There’s no banter, no mugging, no over-earnest thank yous and certainly no casual mentions of the (digital) merch table, but you barely miss such commonplace concert trappings. Why? Because time at an Oranssi Pazuzu gig just seems to vanish, and even within the artificial confines of a Youtube stream the band retain the power to warp the rules of physics. Actually, scratch that and physics be damned, because this has bugger-all to do with anything so petty as science – this is nothing if not pure, unholy magic.
ALEX DELLER
What’s the worst thing about being in a band?
“The time away from family and friends – missing birthdays, celebrations and holidays. Getting sick on tour is incredibly stressful. It sucks when one person gets ill, because that spreads through the bus fast – there’s no chance of dodging!”
OK, so what’s the best thing about being in a band?
“Honestly, using my gifts and tools to help and encourage people; knowing that what I do helps breathe positivity into other people’s lives. The gifts each individual has are meant for community – building people up and bringing some sense of positivity into the world.”
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“The most important thing to help grow a band’s business isn’t money, it’s relationships. Don’t try to buy your way onto things; build relationships, because ultimately success – and I’d definitely say this for ourselves – is achieved through a body of people using their skills toward a common goal.”
When was the first time you felt like a rock star?
“The first time anything like that hit me we were playing this festival in Germany called Summer Breeze in 2013. This festival only has one stage, so when we came out there was just a sea of people waiting to see us. The stage was absolutely massive – the size of a warehouse – and I couldn’t see the end of the crowd. I was blown away.”
What’s been your worst experience on drugs?
“I don’t do drugs, so I’ve not had a worst experience. But, I have drunk so much wine once that I literally shit the bed. I mean, I was young and in a hotel but still! It was in the early days of our touring and we were doing some brutal tours at the time, for like three months straight. When we got a day off I just wanted to relax and have a drink… only to wake up letting it loose in the bed!”
When was the last time you were truly happy?
“A couple days ago I had a vision of something that means it’s time to take action. I’ve had visions of this thing before when I was 24 and it’s meant giving it my best shot. Right now it follows the natural progression of my life – if it goes well it’ll have a lot of synergy with other things I have going on… but I’m not ready to share it because it’s not tangible just yet!”
In 2011 you founded Heartsupport – an online mental health support network. What has been your proudest moment since its formation? “Seeing how many people go to it, to be honest. We have over half a million visits to our community a month through social media, our page and interviews; it makes me proud to see so many people using it and making it home for themselves – it’s not just the Jake Luhrs show, you know?”
What advice can you give to people struggling right now?
“Take action. I think it’s important to recognise the authority we all have to choose who gets influence us every day; words can be great in supporting us to do things, but they can also have a damaging effect and so we should be mindful of who we let influence us. Taking action in even small ways can help to improve our lives, because small steps build towards big steps.”
What was helping you stay safe and sane during the lockdown?
“My faith and time for meditation and prayer. Being at home and just being thankful for that – I’ve not had much time for it these past 15 years – has given me a lot of gratitude for what I have and the little joys of life, every day; that I’m alive, not sick and that I can play with my dog… things like that colour my perception of this whole situation. I don’t want the fear of what’s going on to dictate how I live my life.”
You guys recently released your ninth album, Guardians. What message do you hope fans take from it?
“We need to focus on unity and coalesce; move away from being judgemental or selfish. It’s a message that’s especially important with what’s going on with this pandemic. After this is all said and done you’ll be able to go anywhere in the world, to any nation with any language, and know you have something in common with them – we could do a lot with the power of that connection.”
GUARDIANS IS OUT NOW VIA FEARLESS RECORDS. HEARTSUPPORT CAN SUPPORT ANYBODY WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES NO MATTER HOW BIG OR SEEMINGLY TRIVIAL. THEY CAN BE REACHED AT HEARTSUPPORT.COM
“I DRANK SO MUCH WINE I SHIT THE BED”