Kimmo Pohjonen generates fanatical praise worldwide for revolutionizing accordion sound, music, playing, composing and performance. With his custom made electronic, MIDI-fied instrument, he has radically re-invented the accordion, creating astonishing new soundscapes and working with many diverse and innovative projects during his almost thirty-year career, including: Uniko with Samuli Kosminen and Kronos Quartet, KTU with Pat Mastelotto and Trey Gunn, Accordion Wrestling, Earth Machine Music, Bright Shadow and more.
Pohjonen’s new album Sensitive Skin (CD: Octopus / Ondine and LP: Svart) is a marvel of sonic achievement and being hailed as his best album yet. Produced by James Spectrum (Pepe Deluxe, Von Hertzen Brothers), Sensitive Skin features guests Kronos Quartet, Samuli Kosminen, Tuomas Norvio, Sami Kuoppamäki, Timo Kämäräinen, Arto Järvelä, Timo Alakotila, Lauri Porra, Ismo Alanko, Inka and Saana Pohjonen and others. The album spent two months at the Number One position of the World Music Charts Europe and five consecutive in the WMCE Top Five. Sensitive Skin won the award for Best Album / Etno category in the 2016 Finnish EMMA Awards.
KIMMO POHJONEN SKIN
Kimmo Pohjonen - accordion, electronics, voice
Inka Pohjonen - guitar, electronics, vocals
Saana Pohjonen - drums, vocals
Sensitive Skin reviews
Mojo 4 star**** ”…ridiculously accessible, with strong melodies, great arrangements for the Kronos Quartet and unusual vocal harmonies provided by the Finn’s daughters. On tracks as uplifting as “Atomi”, you begin to imagine a strange world where he could even have hits.”
Songlines 5 star ***** “That Kimmo should exploit every sound available from his accordion – the rattle of buttons, the breathy wheeze of the bellows – as well as the occasional burst of conventional squeezebox melody and snatches of a tune, is to be expected. But on Sensitive Skin he moves deeper than ever into uncharted sonic territory… Sensitive Skin is emotionally engaging, intellectually fascinating and demandingly exuberant.” Julian May
Songlines Top of the World “Finnish accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen releases what may be his most stimulating work to date, pushing sonic boundaries through throbbing rhythms and expansive production.”
Pohjonen has performed in various ensembles and projects at both David Bowie’s and Patti Smith’s Meltdown festivals in London, The Proms at Albert Hall, London Jazz Festival, WOMAD festivals in UK and Australia, Roskilde Festival, Köln Philharmonie, Katowice JazzArt Festival to name just a few. In USA: Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Centre.
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