Maru & Mikael - Destination Nowhere

The duo Maru & Mikael consisted of Marianne "Maru" Nyman (1954-) and Mikael Wiik (1951-). Maru started making music as a hobby when she was 11, teaming up with 12-year old Carita Holmström. Carita played the piano and they both sang. Maru met Mikael sometime in the late 60's at a small folk club called Foggy Mountain Club, where amateur bands frequently played and had fun. Mikael played blues there with his friend Sten Kallis, when Maru and Carita happened into that place and asked about the music the guys were playing - blues was rare in Finland then. The girls then did their own set, and Mikael was totally amazed by the skills of those two young girls. This resulted in him temporarily joining the duo.

Mikael got a job buying records for record company EMI, but despite speaking fluent English and knowing a lot about music he wasn't really the moving, energetic type they wanted, so he quit. Instead he became producer for Carita Holmström, and despite lack of experience in this field he handled the production chores on this young and ambitious female folk/jazz singer's records.

Eventually Maru and Mikael - who became lovers - started making plans for a duet album. The songs for the album had been composed by both of them during the last four years, but Mikael had to write the lyrics in a bit of a hurry. Nevertheless, the album was recorded with successful results for new label Hi-Hat, where no one had ever even heard any demo tapes from the duo! The boss, Tommi Liuhala, had faith in them after hearing Carita's records, and that was enough to close the deal.

So, "Destination Nowhere" introduces an original blend of folk, rock, lilting pop music and slight progressive tones. In addition to the duo's own songs there's a heavenly rendition of the Japanese traditional "Sakura (The Cherry Blossom)". The only complaints that could be addressed are the slightly weak song "Low and Lazy" and the album's overlength - a little compressing here and there wouldn't have hurt. Otherwise this is a stupendous album by two extremely talented musicians. Nice cover art was made by the aforementioned Sten Kallis.

The duo had ideas for a follow-up, perhaps a bluesy or a totally acoustic album, but nothing materialized because of the debut's poor sales. Mikael Wiik continued producing records, worked as a freelance reporter and reviewed records in various music magazines. Maru was a member in singing group Silhuetit in 1978, recording the album "Jos mulle sydämesi annat" with them. Both joined Neil Young tribute group Young Lovers in 1979, but as a duo they've only made an EP in 1990, containing a new version of "Sakura".

Destination Nowhere (1975):

1. Highway Hero
2. Riff 1
3. Hold Your Banners High
4. Pan
5. Riff 2
6. Too Fast to Last
7. Portrait of Sorrow
8. Low and Lazy
9. Riff 1 + 2
10. Sakura (The Cherry Blossom)


http://finnishrock.blogspot.com/2008/05/maru-mikael-destination-nowhere-1975.html