TERVAKELLO is a shamanistic ethno-primitive sound-landscape orchestra. The group members conjure up their music by surrounding the udu drum beat with a variety of acoustic wind instruments, shakers, kalimba, analogue synthesizer, didgeridoo, shaman drum etc. The singular athmosphere created by the music is mainly based on improvisations upon a basic tuner structure.

Since its formation, in spring of 2002, Tervakello has participated with its music in numerous events: in the annual Medieval Market Festivals of Turku, the Kaustinen (Finland) Folk Music Festival, in making sound scenes for theatrical and dance performances, as well as for animations. And of course its own individual concerts have tuned up and refined the music world of Tervakello.

Tervakello's first album, produced and recorded by Teho Majamäki (Ismo Alanko Teholla, HC Andersen) and Heikki Savolainen (Leningrad Cowboys, Hidria Spacefolk, Kimmo Pohjonen), was released on May 7, 2004. It was recorded some 110 meters underground at the Tytyri Mine Museum in Lohja (Finland). The recording captures with excellence Tervakello's musical landscape combining it smoothly with the distinctly audible mine surroundings, the dropping water and the occasional rocks crashing down into the abyss darkness.

Music Mosaic (www.music-mosaic.com), which is a division of the Australian company Music a la Carte, licensed the title called Engelstreftir into their compilation album called Fire Drums.

The principal members and instruments of the orchestra:

Esa Nikula                  udu, rain stick

Ville Matti Simonen       udu, natural bark flute

Santeri Väyrynen          udu, recorder, saxophone

Jonne Nikula                shaker, kalimba

Jesse Juup                   analogue synthesizer, sampler

Henrik Wakonen           udu, shaman drum