Tartu has a new band: Külm Mai, or Cold May, who took their name from the fact that it was an extraordinarily cold day in May of 2005, when they first met.

Raimu Hanson, music reporter for Postimees met with the band, also on an unexpectedly bitterly cold day, though it was this January, and wrote (PM, 19.01.2006) about the launch of their new CD “Igasugused” (all kinds, although perhaps sundry serves as an appropriate translation). While the CD has yet to reach these shores the news item caught the slender one’s attention, for the band features one-time Torontonian Hillar Tork on guitar and vocals.

New Zealand born, Toronto raised and educated, then resident of the Netherlands, Sweden and Great Britain, Hillar Tork has now made Tartu his home. He has been actively involved in Estonian culture wherever he has lived, including heading the Hollandi Eesti Selts, so this new venture comes as no surprise. Local estos remember the multitalented Tork as the bassist in a number of bands, most notably with Positiivsed Mehed.

It seems that for the globe-trotting Tork brothers Eesti is a powerful magnet - the youngest, Aarne, now living in Vancouver with his family, moved to Tallinn soon after independence was regained, working for Estonian Air. Number 2 son Lembit was a few years behind, choosing in the mid 1990-s to move to Tallinn, where he has established not only a successful architectural practice but a family as well.

Hanson notes that Külm Mai, which is led by keyboardist/guitarist/composer/vocalist Heikki Kalle has a distinctly cold sound, similarities are to be found with the legendary band Jäääär and its cousin Jääboiler. (I’ll leave the Cold Play puns aside until I get a chance to hear Cold May.) The other members of the band are vocalist and keyboardist Pille Vilgota and percussionist/vocalist InBoil, who provides the continuity, having drummed for Jäääär and Jääboiler. And for more icy connections - Aarne Tork played guitar with InBoil’s Jääboiler project.

Hanson lauds Külm Mai’s tight sound, thought-provoking lyrics and attention demanding guitar licks. Kalle is the primary composer, InBoil the lyricist. “Igasugused” is a CD composed of 14 cuts, and Hanson found himself captivated by the recording, his initial headphoned immersion stretched the 45 minute total playing time to two and a half hours.

Külm Mai will be promoting their CD this month in Tallinn and Tartu. With any luck, and a bit of gentle pressure on our connections at the estore, once spring rolls around, the Külm Mai debut recording will have made its way to Toronto. We’ll keep you posted.

Märkmed: