Finnish percussionist Markku Ounaskari made a strong impression on producer Manfred Eicher during the recording of Sinikka Langeland’s “Starflowers” album and was invited to present his own project, and it is a fascinating one, with source material including Russian psalms and folk songs from displaced Finnish peoples (Karelians, Udmurtians, Vepsäns) – all approached from improvisational perspectives. It feels like a voyage over unfamiliar terrain, or as Markku says, “like a journey through the night”. The disc is an ECM debut for up and coming pianist Samuli Mikkonen, and a welcome return for Norwegian trumpeter-singer Per Jørgensen, familiar from ECM discs with Michael Mantler, Jon Balke and Miki N’Doye.

Tracklist:
1. Polychronion (Traditional)
2. Psalm CXXI (Trad.)
3. Tuuin Tuuin (Trad.)
4. Aallot (Markku Ounaskari, Samuli Mikkonen)
5. Introit (Trad.)
6. Pitkä pajo (Trad.)
7. Introit / Changing paths 1 (Mikkonen, Ounaskari)
8. The Gipsy's Stone (Mikkonen, Ounaskari)
9. Pikkumetsä (Mikkonen, Ounaskari)
10. Soldat Keljangúr (Trad.)
11. Mountain of Sorrow (Mikkonen, Ounaskari)
12. Introit / Changing paths 2 (Mikkonen, Ounaskari)
13. Sjuan Mad' (Trad.)
14. Sjuan Gúr (Trad.)