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180 gram Black Virgin Vinyl with a free Download Code included!

Vienna, Rome, Seoul... Iiro Rantala and Ulf Wakenius are musicians who travel the world, always on tour as leaders of their own projects. So it was something of a fluke that this duo was able to come into existence at all. Whenever gaps could be found in both of their crammed diaries, they would meet to do concerts together. "Each of us would bring some pieces to play", says Wakenius, "but because we always had so little time in the run-up, we were more or less rehearsing live on stage." It is precisely this way of approaching the music - with spontaneity, inquisitiveness and a complete lack of preconceived ideas - that gives the duo its fabulous energy. It is worth noting that almost all of the tracks on this album are first takes. Each track of the album captures the mood of a different city. "Vienna" sounds as if Mozart could have written it - if he were a jazz musician living now. "Seoul" combines traditional Korean music with the 21st century urban metropolis. "Helsinki", says Rantala of his home town, "is a relaxed, groovy place." Puccini's aria "Nessun Dorma" references Milan as an important centre of Italian opera, whereas "What A Wonderful World" is a summarization of this musical tour of cities: "Every place is lifted by ist music and is therefore unique. We've hunted down these specific sounds." Rantala and Wakenius always play Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke" as the encore at their concerts, and audiences love it. That track was a must for the album, as was "Love The Stuff/Ain't No Mountain High Enough" from Stuff, the 70's and 80's jazz-funk band. That legendary band also inspired the choice of album title: "Good Stuff". "The tracks bring together influences and composers that have left their mark on us," says Wakenius. He and Rantala have indeed brought together great things, but what they go on to make of these materials and inspirations: that's the real good stuff.

Track Listing