It is the contrasts that make the Iiro Rantala HEL Trio so appealing. As a pianist, Rantala often captivates with great lightness and ravishingly supple lines. And then he transforms himself into a humorous rummager in the piano who can powerfully unfold pathos. He has something baroque in his demeanour, his playing is full of relish, so that it only takes a few notes and the audience is already on his side of musical enjoyment. On the other hand, Anton Eger, with his irresistibly delicate playing fuelled by a wide variety of styles, and Conor Chaplin, with his weighty yet agile grooves on the bass, bring their very own idea of sound and design to the music. And so the HEL Trio is not a nostalgic back-to-the-roots project: "For me, music should always go forwards," says Rantala. His restless, almost hyperactive approach, his urge to try things out and surprise his audience time and time again and his ability to play a wide variety of genres and styles authentically while always sounding like himself make him an exceptional figure among European pianists. And the Iiro Rantala HEL Trio's Tough Stuff is a further milestone on his richly varied journey of discovery.