Jussi Reijonen sayr: salt | thirst Review by Gary Hill
This is the second album from this artist I’ve reviewed. I landed that one under prog, and I’m doing the same here. Part of the reason this one goes there is because the previous one landed there. That said, the fact that these tracks are epic constructions with just one instrument, acoustic guitar, lands it as art music. This is not the kind of thing that works well in a track by track way, but since that’s how we do reviews at Music Street Journal, it’s how it’s done. Let’s just say this is artistic solo acoustic guitar music that evolves slowly. It is two epic lengths numbers.
This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2025 Volume 4. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2025.
Track by Track Review
salt
Acoustic guitar based, this is mellow and gradually evolving. It gets somewhat rocking at times. It definitely works through some changes as it makes its way through. At just over 17 minutes long, this thing is epic in size. Given how far it wanders, it’s also epic in scope. The changes are gradual, though, and it never rises beyond just a single acoustic guitar. There are some moments late that make me think just a tiny bit of David Gilmour.
thirst
At over 23 minutes long, this is even more epic than the other track was. This comes in with a bit more of a blues rocking vibe at play. It works through, developing that basic concept until around the six-and-a-half minute mark. Then we get a short piece of silence before we’re brought back into sonic territory. It works through a different mode from there. Then around 2/3 of the way through the track we get another stop and restart.
