After years of keeping the American rock legend, of which he is the only living member of the original line-up, alive with his band Mountain, Corky Laing has decided to release his own record once again. In keeping with the band and the recording location, the title "Finnish Sessions" was chosen.
With his Scandinavian backing band, the now 74-year-old Laing has succeeded in creating a remarkable album, which brings Mountain's style to life in a modern guise. He was supported by Michael Monroe, who contributes the blues harp on "Totally Wrong" and by Ian Hunter, who contributes the keyboards on "Even More" and "My World".
Laing puts his stamp on the songs with his dynamic style of playing the drums and shows with his slightly smoky voice that he is also a good singer. The Swede Conny Bloom sets accents with strong rocking guitar solos on some songs. He is supported in the guitar work by the Finnish multi-instrumentalist Harry Väyrynen, who provides a full sound as a second guitarist and also plays additional drums and the bass on some tracks, which is played on most songs by John Vihervär, who together with Laing on the drums provides a solid rhythm basis.
Maria Hänninen contributes the vocals on the last two songs, which are declared as bonus tracks on the album, and thus ensures a varied album, also due to the different singers.
With "Finnish Sessions", Corky Laing has succeeded in showing that he not only keeps the legacy of Mountain alive, but also has the creativity to expand it with his own songs, which certainly have the quality to be presented live alongside the old classics.
