Artist : Auri

Album : Auri

Release Date : 23-03-2018

Added : 07-05-2018

Guess what 'Troy Donockley' and 'Tuomas Holopainen' are doing when they are not with 'Nightwish': they are putting together a new project with Finnish female singer 'Johanna Kukela' (who is Tuomas's wife) but in a style that, the least we can say, is quite far from their main group. We are far from the symphonic metal of 'Nightwish' and we would get closer to progressive bands like 'Karnataka' or 'Mostly Autumn' because Johanna has the same strengths as 'Hayley Griffiths' or 'Olivia Sparnenn', a christaline and aerial voice which accords perfectly with the planing and delicate compositions of this opus. To this, we can add that Tuomas has an ability to compose accessible songs with a palpable sensitivity and with inevitably influences of his native Finland which brings this Celtic side full of positive serenity. 'Auri' contains nuggets of emotion starting with 'I Hope Your World Is Kind' with Johanna who takes you by the hand to carry you on a little cloud where you feel good; 'Skeleton Tree' continues the journey with a beautiful mix of East and West and 'Desert Flower' is a ballad where the duo 'Johanna'/'Troy' works perfectly. As for 'Night 13', it's a great crescendo of intense emotion that is even stronger with the associated video clip (see above). The following continues to make us travel and we go from one landscape to another completely different from the previous one to finish in Ireland with 'Them Thar Chanterelles' and its final festive crescendo that could very well be part of the famous dance show 'Lord Of The Dance'. In summary, our Finnish trio of ‘Auri' takes us on a beautiful journey full of good surprises and this album open to a general audience is to be enjoyed in a quiet place to relax from the daily commotion...

Line Up / Musicians

Johanna Kurkela (Vocal, Violin), Tuomas Holopainen (Keybords, Choirs), Troy Donockley (Guitar, Bouzouki, Uilleann pipes, Low whistles, Aerophone, Bodhran, Keybords, Vocal)