For such an innovative band as Nollapiste, its previous album, Simpukka-Amppeli, was a big disappointment. Muovi Antaa Periksi, from 1996, had promised a lot from this young and odd group, but moving toward a more serious approach in its lyrics (while retaining most of Liimatta's own style) and using melancholic melodies didn't fit with Absoluuttinen Nollapiste's original concept. However, Suljettu, the follow-up to Simpukka-Amppeli, sounds good: There is a sad and melancholic tone throughout, yet the mood is not destroyed by Liimatta's comical lyrics. The rest of the band sounds like any of the classic Finnish rock acts from the '70s or '80s, mostly because Absoluuttinen Nollapiste relies on a minimalistic retro sound influenced by many Love Records artists. Even though there are exceptional tracks such as the funky "Sukututkimus Lannistaa," Suljettu is a very melancholic and sad album. That -- and the album's length of over 70 minutes -- isn't a problem though, because Suljettu is a conceptual album. And that is not just because of Liimatta's lyrics: The music is linked together, even though there are two tracks by bass player/vocalist Aake Otsala. The lyrics tell the story of a small, unnamed town, beginning with different types of happenings and ending with a magnum opus ("Suvannossa Ylpeä Ilme") in which a father has a showdown with his son. The story has large gaps, so you can use your imagination to give more value to the album. Although Suljettu seems to be a very artistic album, Liimatta and the rest of Absoluuttinen Nollapiste have self-irony and don't attempt too much. If you think that Suljettu is a very oppressive album because of its sad tone, "Esinekeräilyn Hitaus" surely provides a contrast to the rest of the songs with lyrics such as "Olen biljardipalloja nuoleskellen/Väkinäisen/Hauska" ("As I'm licking pool balls/I'm awkwardly funny"). Suljettu is a very tight and balanced album, and surely should be considered one of the best Finnish albums of 1999. Not just the songs make Suljettu great, but also the very unique sound associated with many artists who record for Love Records. ~ Antti J. Ravelin, All Music Guide
Suljettu (1999) is an album by the Finnish rock group Absoluuttinen Nollapiste. It is a thematic concept album, telling the story of a father and a son living in a small, closed-minded Finnish town and is generally accepted as the group's masterpiece. Suljettu is Finnish for "closed".
Track listing
"Kasvatus" (Aki Lääkkölä, Tommi Liimatta) – 2:23
"Mihin" (Liimatta) – 3:07
"Sukututkimus lannistaa (Liimatta) – 3:43
"Portaat" (Aake Otsala) – 3:24
"Kupit on kuin olisi häät" (Otsala, Liimatta, Lääkkölä) – 2:57
