When Finnish singer Anna Murtola released her debut a few years ago called Fuego Por Dentro – The Fire Within, we were treated to a tasteful blend of tradition and innovation. Original material on her 2023 release, La Tierra Blanca (The White Land), indicates that she has a skillful knack for finding inspiration in poetry, spoken word, traditional flamenco letras and old Karelian runosong texts while also paying tribute to her own Finnish roots and familial ties.   

Murtola's beautiful voice sings with a poignancy that conveys nature’s wonderment, whether it be the cold wind that always blows or the calm inside a storm. Her lyrics include analogies to human trials and emotional experiences. “Río Rojo (The Red River)” contemplates an unstoppable river of judgements and demands, and “Inundacion de Primavera (Spring Flood)” provides the means for escape from a bad relationship. Murtola’s poetic messages are incorporated throughout the album, many tracks such as “Northwind Bulería,” “Puentes Blancos,” “De Azul Plomo” with instrumental accompaniment of guitar, bass, percussion, sound art and minimal colorings of piano, violin or cello. In sparse arrangements, the two closing tracks feature kantele (zither) and spoken word or vocals giving a nod to tradition. On future projects, Murtola might even want to consider also including some jouhikko (bowed lyre) or accordion in ways to naturally complement her lyrics, rhythms and folkloric traditions.          

I appreciate the way Anna Murtola has built a personalized musical style by singing or speaking in Finnish while establishing a melodic flamenco groove in a contemplative, ethereal Nordic atmosphere. Featured guitarists are Joonas Widenius, Robert “Robi” Svärd or Juho Koskimies. Along with Hannu Rantanen (bass), Miguel El Cheyenne (percussion) and Paavo Impiö (sound art), they achieve a sensitive, passionate expression of an Andalusian art form in a distinct yet unexpected Nordic setting. (Joe Ross, Roots Music Report)