Marja Ahti

[FreakAnimalFinland]

Yesterday got the new Marja Ahti "Tender Membranes" LP. I have written about her work in multiple different topics, but I guess topic of her own may be needed! New album again very excellent. I guess I have managed to get pretty much everything I know of.
In short her work is field recordings and other acoustic sound material combined with synthesizers and electronic feedback in order to find the space where these sounds start to communicate.
I can't always describe why some electro-acoustic works irritates, and why some other resonates instantly 100%. Her stuff is often light-years ahead of generic level of stuff found from usual "Finnish experimental music scene".
Good composition, good sounds, vinyl cuts are always very good. I got the feeling she knows the "noise underground" (lay-out of album done by Lasse Marhaug!), but has the elegant real sound art approach.

It is hard to really explain works in short. All albums feel like they demand actual conscious listening, not merely just skipping through. Nevertheless, for fast references, could mention couple things to start from:
https://marjaahti.bandcamp.com/track/in-all-this-there-is-a-melody-that-you-can-sing-and-to-which-you-may-dance
https://marjaahti.bandcamp.com/track/coastal-inversion
https://marjaahti.bandcamp.com/track/apparitions

I often am not fan of glitchy sounding digital works, but Marja Ahti has so stylish way of mixing that with acoustic sources and building such tensions and atmospheric soundscapes, I don't get the feeling of instant rejection, hah..
 
There is new article of her work here:
https://www.soundohm.com/article/marja-ahti-tender-membran

Her own website with news, sound,
https://marjaahti.com

Playing live in kind on.. lets say "non noise", bigger experimental music circles in few days, 18.10.2023 AKOUSMA, MONTREAL, 21.10.2023 LAMPO, CHICAGO.

Mini document/video footage
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJZdeuOOdyI&t=17s

[MT]

I have the Still Lives LP, which I like a lot. Microsounds done well, are a definate sweet spot for me. Have to check out this new LP as soon as possible. Also missed her live show in Kuopio, which annoys me but I had other engagements.

[mag-maa]

I don't have anything clever to say, but I think I have all of her albums. Interesting compositions, field recordings, electronics and some whatever found sounds mixed nicely together. No hassle, just concentrated deep listening type of stuff. Meditative... but with those "concrete sounds" doesn't jump to some cosmic channels (except occasionally). I don't have a clear idea what's that music is about, but it's interesting to listen and to feel. Sometimes some dreamlike visions may appear.