KTU

An instrumental ensemble spanning two continents, KTU merges progressive rock with traditional Scandinavian folk elements alongside psychedelic rock, ambient electronica, and jazz. Though occasional wordless background vocals appear, the group fundamentally avoids vocal focus. Their melodic and harmonic approaches draw heavily from 1970s progressive rock acts including King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Yes, Gentle Giant, and Genesis. Guitarist Trey Gunn, born December 13, 1960, in Texas, and drummer/percussionist Pat Mastelotto, born September 10, 1955, in Chico, California, both participated in King Crimson, established in 1969 in England by guitarist Robert Fripp, with Gunn joining in 1994 and departing in 2003. Yet KTU avoids mere nostalgia for that era's progressive sound, incorporating later electronica from the 1990s and 2000s, and the cited 1970s influences lack significant Scandinavian folk components. Much of the Nordic folk aspect stems from accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen, born August 16, 1964, in Finland, who previously performed with folk groups Pinnin Pojat and JPP; his father, also an accordionist, specialized in Finnish folk traditions. KTU originated in 2004 through the collaboration of Pohjonen and fellow Finn Samuli Kosminen with Gunn and Mastelotto. Pohjonen and Kosminen previously founded Kluster in 2001, while Gunn and Mastelotto, beyond King Crimson, had worked in TU, which issued an album in 2003 and supported alternative metal band Tool on tour dates. The moniker KTU combines elements of Kluster and TU. Gunn's affiliations extend to prog rock outfits UKZ and Quodia, as well as his own Trey Gunn Band. Kosminen's background, with a surname signifying "cosmic" in Finnish, encompasses Finnish group Edea and Múm, an experimental Icelandic ensemble primarily featuring Icelandic musicians. Mastelotto co-founded the 1980s pop/rock-new wave act Mr. Mister, known for the 1985 hit single "Broken Wings." On their debut release, the 2005 live album 8 Armed Monkey issued by Thirsty Ear, Pohjonen handled accordion, Mastelotto drums and percussion, Gunn guitar, and Kosminen samples. Their initial studio effort, Quiver, followed, captured during 2007 and 2008 before appearing on Hoedown Arts in May 2009.