Tumsa: Not great yet, but getting better

Egils Kaljo | 

Nesaprasto cilvēku zemē

After enjoying Tumsa’s 2000 release, Katram savu Atlantīdu, I picked up their 1997 debut, Putni. I also liked that album, which was far more "hard rock" than Atlantīdu. In terms of musicianship and songwriting, Tumsa had considerably evolved between the two albums. With Nesaprasto cilvēku zemē, it has became apparent that Tumsa is slowly perfecting their craft, making this the best and most consistent release of their career.

The core of the group has always been Mārtiņš Freimanis, who not only provides vocals and plays the acoustic guitar, but is the principal songwriter as well. Rounding out the band are Haralds Drekslers on rhythm and solo guitar, Jānis Daugalis on bass guitar, Kaspars Boroduško on drums and Einārs Kokins on sound. Joining them on this album is Aigars Šmits on keyboards.

Tumsa are first and foremost a rock band, and one of the better examples of that is the opening track "Tā nav lijis," with its catchy and sing-a-long chorus. This song also takes advantage of the presence of the new keyboardist, with the piano providing the hummable main melody.

In a more curious example of their evolution is the song "Tu neesi tāda." The drum beat reminds me of quite a few disco songs, though the song itself is very effective, but perhaps a bit out of place on the album.

Another song that deviates from the regular Tumsa sound is "Lai būtu tā," which sounds like it is from the early days of rock (although with a modernized sound). It reminds me a bit of the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," what with its constantly repeating backing vocals. Though it is a deviation from their regular style, this song is also very likable, since it has such a light touch, compared to some of the more serious and heavy songs on the album.

The lyrics on the album are also expansive in their subject matter. One of the more “disturbing” songs on the album is "Šupuldziesma slepkavam," which, as its title suggest, is a rather dark song—a lullaby for a murderer. Freimanis’ lyrics include the line "Guli mans asiņainais draugs" (Sleep my bloody friend).

However, many of the lyrics on the album do go over my head. Sometimes I’m not really quite sure what Freimanis is trying to say in a song, but that did not take away from my enjoyment of the album

My favorite song on the album is probably "Arī man ir sirds." With its great beat and driving rhythm, I think this is destined to be one of the all-time Tumsa classics. I would imagine it would be a hit in concert as well, with its oft-repeated phrase "Ša la la."

One criticism of the album would be that even though Tumsa have nearly perfected their songwriting craft, many of the songs wind up sounding very similar. One might ask, "Why mess with a winning formula?" However, Tumsa seem to be aware of this, judging by some of the afortementioned songs that try to break out of their regular mold.

The most apparent weakness of the Katram savu Atlantīdu was that it had a few too many songs in English (four in total). Perhaps wisely they decided to record every song on this album in Latvian.

Nesaprasto cilvēku zemē is a very solid and highly enjoyable rock record. But I am of the belief that Tumsa have not yet made a truly great album. These guys have incredible talent and I think they have a truly great album in them. In the meantime, Nesaprasto cilvēku zemē should delight all rock fans and help Tumsa reach an even broader audience, something these guys have worked hard to do and of which they are fully deserving.

Details

Nesaprasto cilvēku zemē

Tumsa

MICREC,  2001

Egils Kaljo is an American-born Latvian from the New York area . Kaljo began listening to Latvian music as soon as he was able to put a record on a record player, and still has old Bellacord 78 rpm records lying around somewhere.

OSCE official opens mouth, inserts foot

Andris Straumanis | 

Memo to Gerard Stoudmann: The next time someone asks you about language policy in Latvia, keep your mouth shut. Stoudmann is director of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.

During a two-day visit to Rīga that concluded March 20, Stoudmann met with government officials and discussed a number of issues. He also pressed Latvia to remove a provision in the country’s election law that requires political candidates to prove their proficiency in the Latvian language, according to an OSCE press release. The need for reform, he suggested, is urgent as Latvia heads toward its next parliamentary election on Oct. 5 and looks beyond that date to potential membership in the NATO defense alliance and in the European Union.

But then, in a remark about language policy made during a conference on OSCE and Latvian cooperation, Stoudmann stepped over the line, according to media reports. He said Russian should be made Latvia’s second official language. A third of the nation’s inhabitants speak Russian as their first language.

The OSCE, for those not familiar with this powerful international body, traces its roots back to the early Cold War era. It attempts to resolve disagreements between European nations before they rupture into armed conflicts.

Human rights and democratic reforms have been among the OSCE’s key concerns. But so has the principle of self-determination.

Stoudmann, as Latvians would say, izgāza podu (upset the pot). His remark, widely reported in local media, soon brought a groundswell of rebuke. Even Latvian Prime Minister Andris Bērziņš called for his resignation.

Apparently realizing that he was guilty of a major faux pas, Stoudmann on March 21 recanted, saying his comments were meant as "personal reflection," not a statement of OSCE policy. "I wish to stress that my intention never was to suggest that Russian be made the second state language in Latvia, or that this issue was on the agenda," Stoudmann said in a press release. "I am fully aware of the sensitivities surrounding the issue in Latvia."

Unfortunately, the damage had already been done.

The Russian Foreign Ministry, for example, piggy-backed on Stoudmann’s remark and once again complained that Latvia isn’t mindful of the rights of its Russian-speaking minority.

The OSCE is correct to point out problems in Latvia’s election law. Asking that political candidates prove their language ability is discriminatory and unconstitutional, as a language commission appointed by President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga said earlier this year. To be a candidate for political office in Latvia, you must be a citizen. Citizens should not be asked such questions. Let the voters decide whether a candidate is fit for office.

But to suggest, even as "personal reflection," that Russian be made a second official language is unfair to a nation that is still trying to clean up the mess left by a half-century of occupation. It’s particularly unfair because the loudest voice in the language debate is across the border and some 800 kilometers away in Moscow. Who’s watching out for the interest of the Latvians?

If the OSCE really wants to help, it could do more to promote Latvian language education as part of the process of becoming a citizen. Of Latvia’s 2.3 million inhabitants, 22.3 percent are still classed as noncitizens, according to government figures. Russians make up nearly 350,000 of the noncitizens.

In the meantime, Stoudmann’s remark is a reminder for ethnic Latvians that they are the only ones who will look after their interests. Already a number of readers of the SVEIKS mailing list are planning an electronic notification "tree" that would serve to mobilize letter-writing campaigns and other activities for the next time someone like Stoudmann says something damaging to Latvia’s cause. According to Jānis Trallis, better known online as "Rodrigo," there are plans to set up a Web site to coordinate the effort. SVEIKS readers are trying to come up with a name, with "e-Taure" slightly favored over "e-Koks."

The unintended result of Stoudmann’s "personal reflection" may well be the strengthening of Latvians’ resolve on the language issue. If he survives in his OSCE post, he’s sure to find his job in Latvia will have become much tougher.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.

Mūsu pienākums ir atgādināt, ka tas bija noziegums

Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga | 

Augsti godātie represētie, mīļā latviešu tauta,

Mēs esam pulcējušies šeit sēru zīmē par visiem tiem, kas nevainīgi tika tiesāti un sodīti, bet bez tiesas un apsūdzības, pašiem to nezinot. Tas bija noziegums pret cilvēci, tas bija genocīds pret latviešu tautu, tā bija zvērīga necilvēcība, kuru mēs šodien atceramies un pieminam. Mēs noliecam galvas to priekšā, kas pārdzīvoja šo šausmīgo datumu mūsu tautas vēsturē, mēs izsakām līdzjūtību visiem tiem, kas to ir pārdzīvojuši un kas zaudēja savus radiniekus, savus mīļos, savus draugus un kaimiņus.

Šis datums bija viens no pēdējiem lielo deportāciju vilnī, bet arī varbūt pats šausmīgākais izsūtīto skaita ziņā. Bija pieprasīti desmit tūkstoši ģimeņu kā upuri, lai tiktu iebiedēta Latvijas tauta. Un tika izsūtīti trīspadsmit ar pusi tūkstoši ģimeņu, vairāk nekā četrdesmit viens tūkstotis nevainīgu civiliedzīvotāju, lai iebiedētu Latvijas tautu, lai nostiprinātu komunisma režīmu, lai sadzītu ļaudis kolhozos, lai aplaupītu tos, kas kopš klaušu laikiem paaudzi pēc paaudzes sūri, grūti strādājuši un izcīnījuši savu zemi, izcīnījuši to no purvājiem un no mežiem, iekopuši laukus un tīrumus, godīgi strādājuši, audzinājuši savus bērnus, un tagad bez brīdinājuma izrauti no savas dzīves un aizsūtīti mokpilnā tālumā.

Mums ir jāatceras šis notikums, jo to prasa mūsu taisnības izjūta. Mums ir jāatceras šis notikums, lai atgādinātu, ka tas bija noziegums, kam nav attaisnojuma. Ne visi, kas toreiz bija vainīgi, ir stājušies vai kādreiz stāsies cilvēciskās tiesas priekšā, bet es esmu pārliecināta, ka Dieva priekšā savu sodu viņi saņems. Mūsu pienākums ir atgādināt, ka tas bija noziegums, ka tas nav pieņemami. Tie nebija nekādi varoņi, kas uzlika savu parakstu šo nevainīgo ļaužu izsūtīšanai, šādus ļaudis dēvēt par varoņiem ir rupjš izaicinājums pret visām cilvēcības vērtībām, un šādus ļaudis apveltīt ar sarkanām neļśēm ir ciniska un klaja ņirgāšanās par latviešu tautas ciešanām, par cilvēka ciešanām vispār. Tas nav pieņemami, un mēs vienmēr atgādināsim, ka tā nedrīkst notikt, un tas nav un nebūs nevienam pieņemami, nekad un nekur mēs to nedrīkstam pieņemt. Noziegums ir noziegums un kā tādam tam ir jābūt pazīstamam gan mums pašiem un nākamām paaudzēm, gan visas pasaules acīs.

Šogad ir tā sanācis, ka 25.marta izvešanu atcere iekrīt arī Klusajā nedēļā, tieši pirms Lieldienām. Un varbūt mēs varētu izmantot šo datumu sakritību, lai šajā dienā padomātu arī par šśīstīšanos, par izlīgšanu ar savu pagātni, jo ne jau sveša vara vien bija atbildīga par šiem izsūtītajiem. Uz izsūtīto parakstiem bija arī paši latvieši svešu vārdu vidū. Un mēs ļoti labi zinām, ka bija kangari, iztapoņas un oportūnisti, kas ar prieku palīdzēja veikt šo akciju, lai pēc tam karinātu medaļas sev pie krūtīm par šo sasniegumu un nopelnu. Es aicinu Jūs padomāt par to, kā viņi uzvedās tad, kad pārnāca atpakaļ šie izsūtītie no izsūtījuma. Varbūt kaimiņi bija paņēmuši viņu mājas, dzīvokļus un īpašumus. Lai atceras katrs, kas pārgāja pāri pār ielu, kad redzēja pretī nākam savu agrāko skolas biedru, draugu, darba biedru, kaimiņu un izlikās viņu nepazīstam un nepalīdzēja viņam iekārtoties darbā, novērsās no viņa, un tā turpināja to sodu, ko viņš Sibīrijā jau bija paguvis izciest un tomēr pārdzīvot.

Es domāju, ka mūsu tautai daudz kas guļ arī uz pašas sirdsapziņas. Un šajā sēru dienā mēs varam no šīs vainas atpirkties, gan godam cienījot tos, kas ir cietuši, gan arī paši domādami par to, ko mēs varam darīt, lai izpirktu savas tautas vainu nākotnes priekšā. Man šśiet, ka vislabākais gandarījums netaisni cietušajiem būtu gādāt par to, lai tā valsts, kuru mums tomēr izdevās atgūt, būtu stipra un droša, lai tā būtu civilizēta valsts, kurā kaut kas tāds vairs nedrīkst notikt, lai tā būtu valsts, kurā valda tiesu vara un taisnība, lai tā būtu valsts, kurā cilvēka dzīvībai ir augstākā vērtība un kurā mēs visi kopā esam gatavi strādāt un pūlēties, lai veidotu tādu valsti, par kuru tie, kas gāja bojā, varētu justies, ka ir gandarīti un atriebti.

Novēlu visiem šajā dienā, lai jūsu pārdomas jums dod jaunu spēku, ceļot nākotnes Latviju.