KAP KAP is a Rock group from Helsinki, Finland. Their second full-length release, "Flux of Solace," is a mixed bag of layered, atmospheric songs that have a lot in common with Indie Rock. The band describes the album as "classic rock album that has everything for everyone," and indeed, "Flux of Solace" varies a good bit from track to track. While it does share similarities with older bands like THE VELVET UNDERGROUND and SONIC YOUTH, I wouldn't exactly call it 'Classic Rock.' Junnu Alajuuma has a BOB DYLAN-like quality to his voice, but is more polished and melodic in his delivery.

One thing that's kind of off-putting about the album is its length. The keyboard-heavy "On Your Porch" starts things off on a high note but just repeats the same melody for the bulk of the song, sounding more droning than hypnotic with lyrics at a premium. The upbeat "C.S." is decidedly better and one of the album's best cuts, with its echoing, airy guitars and smooth vocal hooks. The atmospheric "Midnight" is another strong track that showcases the band's strong sense of melody, and its textured, instrumental outro stands out as one of the album's finest individual moments.

The band keeps rolling with the super catchy "Lady, Appear," but "Old Goat" kind of throws off the band's momentum. It's not a bad song, but its eerie melodies and sheer length are a departure from the approach of the album's superior first half that does more harm than good. For me, it's one of those "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"- kind of situations, but you still have to give KAP KAP credit for trying. The band get back on track with the melancholy "Don't You Know," with its soft, echoing guitars, and the poppy "Eternal Clouds" is quite good too, but "Shaman of the Sun" gets old after the first few minutes, and "Three" is merely O.K.

There are a number of good moments to be heard on "Flux of Solace," but the album as a whole isn't quite that exciting as things start to taper off after the first four songs. However, KAP KAP establish themselves as a talented band with a unique creative vision with this album, and it's definitely worth a listen or two for those who like their Rock on the unconventional side.