Ensemble

The basic line-up on the album Land of Hope:

Katja Sirkiä, vocals

"Does my bum look big in this?"

Antti Pesonen, guitars, synthesizers, programming and sound manipulation

"Cool pose, eh?" --- "What? What did you just say?! Hey, come back you!"

Matti Jalava, organ, electric piano, keyboards and vocals

"Hmm, was the chorus in 11/8 or 13/8 -time..."

Eero Uurtimo, bass

"My bass is older and bigger than me, so I let it be first."

Tuomo Lassila, drums and percussions

"It's all about speed, not power. Think Mohammed Ali!"

Musicians on the album Ideal Standards Vol. 1: (image link)

Katja Sirkiä (vocals)

"She looks like an angel, sings like an angel - but talks like a woman."

Graduated as an actor in 1999. Vocal music studies: Sibelius Academy, Pop & Jazz Conservatory and Actors´ Studio New York 2004.
Theatre work: The Spiral Theatre/ Theatre for Kids, Theatre of Varkaus, National Radio Theatre, UIT / Hair, Theatre of Tampere / West Side Story, Helsinki City Theatre.
Dubbings in movies and TV
Miscellaneous: high soprano voice with wide range, basic skills from ballet, jazz- and step dance, other native language is German. Hobbies incl. singing (Really, that’s a surprise!?), composing, playing the piano and dance.


Matti Jalava (vocals, voice, Steinway, Nord Electro)

“Matti looks quite often surprised when he’s playing the Steinway – and so do we.”

Other bands or choirs: Ankka, Corni-Pop, Athanor, Höyry-Kone, The Academic Choral Society, Miromente and YL Male Voice Choir among many others.
It is rumored that the reason why Matti went to Höyry-kone (image link) is that he could drink beer and sing progrock with his opera voice while wearing white tie and tails. And because it is possible to love insects.


Rami Talja (bass and fretless bass)

“Rami needs more strings than most bass players – in more ways than one.”

Photographer, artist and painter, creator of Qumma Art www.qumma.com
Masters also Warr guitar and Chapman Stick


Teemu Hänninen (drums)

“Teemu doesn’t even seem to notice that one of the cymbals is broken.”

Bands: Alamaailman Vasarat, Höyry-Kone (image link) 
In 1999 played in the King Crimson tribute band Kärpästen Herra / Lord of the Flies (image link)

Tuomo Lassila (drums and percussion)

“Tuomo and his sticks – hey watch out it’s a marimba!”


“Tuomo and his drums – it’s not all about the size, you know.”

The original drummer and founder of Stratovarius (1984 –1995)
Graduated percussionist from Sibelius Academy 1997
Principal percussionist in the Lohja Philharmonic Orchestra
Plays also flute (tähän linkki kuvaan: Tuomo.jpg)
Relaxes in Metal Gods and Suomi-Bossa.
Makes minimalist electronic music in his home studio
Recent achievements: a drivers licence


Antti Pesonen (guitars, synthesizers, bass, vocoder, programming, sound manipulation)

“Antti tries to find the inner value of playing guitar – or he could be thinking about Italian food as well.”

Started to play violin in the age of five, moved to cello five years later - thankfully. Didn’t like the high notes. Guitar playing and interest for The Beatles and Elvis started a few years later. After seven years it was a time to choose. He preferred the high notes again but differently. After quitting the cello in the Conservatory of Helsinki he studied guitar about five years in the Pop/Jazz Conservatory. Has also studied musicology in the University of Helsinki. The subject of his master’s thesis was Music and the Horror: How music affects the emotions. Now works for Finnish National Opera. Likes music from Abba to Alban Berg, Beatles to Beethoven, Coltrane to Chopin, Dav… – okay okay, you got the picture. Hobbies include Italian language, food and wine. Perhaps not quite in that order. Main guitar: Ruokangas Duke DeLuxe Custom "Lilith" (www.ruokangas.com). Main amplifiers: THD Univalve (www.thdelectronics.com) and Diezel Einstein (www.diezelamplification.com).

Ensemble Evolution

In order to understand the present one must appreciate the past. Only then we can confront the future.

Outsiders (*1979 +1982)

Line-up:
Guitar, vocals: Antti Pesonen
Bass, vocals: Eero Toikka
Drums: Pertti Kansikas

Main achievements:
Five compositions
Two demo tapes
Gigs outdoors, churches, youth clubs
Third place in a national band contest

Angel Dust (*1982 +1984)

Line-up:
Vocals: Kimmo Lassila
Guitars, vocals: Antti Pesonen
Bass: Vesa Välimaa
Drums: Pertti Kansikas

Main achievements:
Demo tape in the Studio of Lepakkoluola
Five compositions of which “Lilith” probably reformed on Vol. 2

Kharon (*1985 +1987)

Line-up
Vocals, lyrics: Kimmo Lassila -> Nina Bergman
Guitars, vocals and compositions: Antti Pesonen
Keyboards, vocals: Matti Jalava
Bass: Päivi Visapää -> Harri Väyrynen -> Rami Talja
Drums: Pertti Kansikas -> Tuomo Lassila -> Marko Latvanen

Main achievements:
Compositions: “The Silent Side of Me”, “Dark Ages”, “Ozone”, “Returning”, “On the Ferry” (a.k.a. “The Epos”), “Molested”.
Demo tape in Studio 303 16. – 17. 11. 1985 with tracks “Ozone”, “Returning”, “The Silent Side of Me” and “Dark Ages”
Legendary gig in Ålborg, Denmark with the new Angel Dust and Stratovarius where Timo Tolkki’s silver 1977 Fender Stratocaster was stolen.
Participation in a band contests with no success: ”No man in his sound mind would listen to this kind of prog in these days.”
Two demo tapes more with large amount of new material containing also compositions from Jalava and lyrics by Latvanen.
From these we hope to reconstruct “Returning”, “On the Ferry” and “Molested” for the “Vol. 2”

Paha Kurki (*1987 +1989)

Line-up I:
Vocals: Hanna Raulo (1988 – 89)
Guitars, vocals: Antti Pesonen
Keyboards, vocals: Matti Jalava
Bass, Stick: Rami Talja
Drums: Marko Latvanen -> Matti Sunell

Main achievements:
Language was changed to Finnish
All band members started to contribute either musically or lyrically
Gigs in the metropolitan area, Shadow Club, KY Exit, Kultti, Ida etc.
National band contest semi finals in Lahti 19.10.89
Last gig in Restaurant Pormestari 27.11.89
More demo tapes:
A: “Uusi heimo”, “Varo Suurinkvisiittoria!” and “Kuunnousu”
B: “Migreeni”, “Älykäs peto” and “Nuku nyt”
C: “Turhat juoksut”, “Kellon alla”, “Kevyesti keskellä päivää”, “Älykäs peto”, “Tulimaa” and “Afrika”.

Paha Kurki (*1991 +6.8.1994) (image link)

Line-up II:
Vocals, keyboards Matti Jalava
Guitars, vocals: Antti Pesonen
Bass, Stick: Rami Talja
Drums: Otto Ylönen -> Pasi Rupponen -> Marko Latvanen
Marimba, percussion: Matti Sunell (1991 – 92)

Main achievements:

Demo tape “Ylösalaisin” recorded by Timo Tolkki
In May 1993 took place the recording and publishing of the first CD made for SimulacruM label (SLACD001). A single containing “Myrskyn merkit” / “Silmät nähdä” .
1994 January 6th a double bill gig with Pekka Pohjola Group.
A small national tour.

Faunin Iltapäivä (*1994 +1996) (image link)

Line-up:
Vocals, lyrics: Marjut Fabritius
Guitar, vocals: Antti Pesonen
Keyboards: Kai Lassfolk
Stick, bass: Rami Talja
Drums, percussion: Otto Ylönen -> Tuomo Lassila (+1996)
Percussion, marimba: Teho Marjamäki (+1996)

Main achievements:
Winner of the national rock-lyric contest 1995
Gigs: Provinssi Rock Festival 11.6.95, Ilosaari Rock Festival, Double bill with Rite of Strings 28.10.95, Tavastia Club 10.1.96, Teatro 4.5.96, Down by the Laituri summer –96, Tavastia Club 7.11.96
Demo tape with three compositions
Live recording “Lavalla Tavalla” (Tavastia Club 10.1.96)

Tekniikan Ihmeet (*1997 +1998) (image link)

Line-up:
Vocals, keyboards: Matti Jalava (image link)
Guitar, vocals: Antti Pesonen
Keyboards, viola and vocals: Max Savikangas (image link)
Bass: Rami Talja
Drums, flute and vocals: Tuomo Lassila
Percussion, violin: Jan Vaaka (image link)

Main achievements:
The 40 minutes long concept piece “Väylien hälyä” was a commissioned work from the Colossus organisation and was performed live only once in Tavastia Club 3.1.97
The recording of the album “Väylien hälyä” in 10 - 12.2.97

Kärpästen Herra / Lord of the Flies (*1998 +15.5.99) (image link)

Line up:
Vocals: Tanja Tiusanen
Guitar: Saku Mantere
Guitar and Peppertronics: Antti Pesonen
Bass and Stick: Rami Talja
Drums: Teemu Hänninen

Main achievements:
King Crimson Tribute Live Performance in Tavastia Club 15.5.1999
Set list: “Kärpästen Herra” (Mantere), “Red”, “One More Red Nightmare”, “Breathless”, “I Talked to the Wind”, “Discipline”, “Lark’s Tongues in Aspic Pt. 2”, “21st Century Schizoid Man”.

The evolution and research will continue inexorably.
Look forward to “Volume 2” in the near future!

E la nave va.