by François CoutureAt the beginning of the 2000s, Finnish guitarist Raoul Björkenheim enjoyed a minor comeback that brought awareness of his work to younger musicians. This studio session was recorded in January 2002 and throws into the arena a young rhythm section: bassist Ingebrigt Haker Flaten and free drummer extraordinaire Paal Nilssen-Love. Björkenheim focuses mostly on fierce runs on his electric guitar. In "Vittula" it is treated with electronics, achieving an eerie ambient soundscape not unlike some of Richard Pinhas' music. Everywhere else he spits out angry solos and mutated textures. Nilssen-Love waltzes through them in a non-jazz/non-rock way, rummaging around his drum set with delightful energy. The electric bass of Ingebrigt evokes rocker realms, setting the stage so that whenever the guitarist hits the wah-wah pedal or gets particularly excited, reminiscences of Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys trio pop up in the listener's head. In some cuts Björkenheim leaves holes, running out of ideas, gasping for air under the thunderous rhythm section, but as a whole this a satisfying session. "Oikosulku" alone is enough to reaffirm his talent and, honestly, he hasn't sounded this uncompromising since the heydays of Krakatau. Compared to the meticulously detailed and slightly over-structured Apocalypso released in 2001, Scorch Trio is all about spontaneity, fire, and maybe just a little too much of an in-your-face attitude.