Mortality's debut explores human limits with melodic jazz, prog rock aesthetics, and deeply personal, hopeful compositions by Tapio Ylinen.
Mortality is a concept album by a Finnish jazz supergroup formed by leading musicians from the vibrant Helsinki jazz scene. The self-titled debut explores the limits of human existence through a rich blend of progressive rock aesthetics, modern jazz harmony, and improvisation. At the heart of the project is producer Tapio Ylinen, who composed most of the material following the tragic death of his wife in 2015. The album serves as both a personal expression of grief and a broader artistic reflection on mortality.
Each member of the ensemble arranged one or more of Ylinen's compositions, giving the album a diverse musical palette while maintaining a unified conceptual direction. Despite its heavy thematic foundation, the music remains delicate, melodic, and often hopeful in tone. The arrangements reflect the individual voices of the musicians, yet Ylinen's compositional style ties the pieces together into a cohesive whole.
Musically, Mortality draws on the narrative structures and conceptual ambition of progressive rock while staying grounded in jazz's improvisational spirit. The result is an emotionally resonant and sonically adventurous album that defies easy categorization. Tracks like "Death's Little Sister" demonstrate the band's ability to balance complexity with clarity, and introspection with forward momentum.
The album's visual identity is completed by cover art from graphic artist Aarni Ylinen, which mirrors the emotional and thematic content of the music. As a complete artistic statement, Mortality is a poignant and thought-provoking meditation on loss, remembrance, and the resilience of the human spirit. It offers no easy answers but invites the listener to reflect--gently and openly--on what it means to live, love, and let go.
Track Listing
In Memoriam…part 1 In Memoriam…part 2 In Memoriam…part 3 Death's Little Sister Mortality Towards Dawn, part 1 Towards Dawn, part 2 Towards Dawn, part 3
