levykokonaisuus

Levykokonaisuus is a Finnish term for an album or a complete release conceived as a single artistic unit. It refers to a cohesive set of recordings released as one product, and is used to distinguish an integrated work from a single track or from a compilation (kokoelma) that gathers tracks from multiple sources. A levykokonaisuus may be a studio album, a live album, a concept album, or a soundtrack.

In Finnish music journalism and cataloging, levykokonaisuus emphasizes unity in structure, theme, and production. The track order, transitions, and overall sound are considered part of the work's artistic statement, and the content is often designed to be experienced as a continuous listening experience rather than as separate, unrelated pieces.

Typical elements include the tracklist, credits (composers, lyricists, performers, producers, engineers), release information (formats such as vinyl, CD, digital; label; release date), and packaging (cover art, liner notes). Some levykokonaisuus explicitly foregrounds a concept, narrative arc, or sonic palette that ties the tracks together.

Variants and related terms: studiolevykokonaisuus, livelevykokonaisuus, and konseptialbumi (konseptialbumi). It is commonly contrasted with kokoelma (a compilation) or with singles and EPs.

In contemporary Finnish discourse, levykokonaisuus remains the preferred descriptor when the focus is on the artistic unity of an album, even as distribution channels and formats evolve.