Album of the Month, Featured, Headline, News

Album of the Month: Greater Pacific – Incandescent

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Time for new album of the month. I’m a bit early with this one, because Yer Bird will officially release this in the beginning of september. I just couldn’t resist, because I love everything about this one. Greater Pacific from Southern California are masters of laid-back americana and their debut full-length is amazingly beautiful. Even though it is very far-fetched to compare folk band to an indie pop band, Greater Pacific somehow reminds me of Trembling Blue Stars. Maybe Greater Pacific’s Kyle Kersten and Bobby Wratten from TBS are just both able to create same kind of little bit melancholic, but extremely comfortable atmosphere. If you need more pointless namedropping, Norfolk & Western’s masterpiece Dusk at Cold Parlours could be located around the same neighbourhood. Anyway, the thing that matters is that Incandescent is a magnificent record. Wonderful vocals, beautifully crafted and arranged songs and a pedal steel. Who could ask for more? This is certainly in my top 10 for 2012 and maybe even in top 3. This is the marvellous opening track And You All Remain With Me.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/54894549″ iframe=”true” /]
 
Greater Pacific at Facebook

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Album of the Month, Featured, Finnish music, Headline

Album of the Month: Viljami Kukkonen – Mörönsyötti

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The new album of the month is obviously Mörönsyötti by Viljami Kukkonen. This one really hit me hard.. or let me rephrase that.. this one hit me really softly. Mörönsyötti is a giant leap ahead of everything else released this year. I just love everything about it. It’s a kind, caring and warm companion that will convince you that even the longest night leads to daylight. I love the fact that an album that contains quite a high amount of musical instruments and extremely detailed arrangements can sound so small, heartfelt and warm. As I previously wrote, listening to Mörönsyötti for the first time was almost like a spiritual experience. It’s not soul, but it’s soulful inspiration. Soft americana colliding with the adorable side of Finnish 70s schlager. A magical and colourful piece of music. You may have noticed already, that I’m not good at describing the exceptional beauty and sincere warmness of the album. This is just what my world should sound like.

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[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/39044257″ iframe=”true” /]
 

Viljami Kukkonen at Facebook

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Album of the Month, Featured, Finnish music

Album of the Month: Nopat – Kadun tuolla puolella

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Nopat – Kadun tuolla puolella (Kleppari, 2012)

I’ve been looking forward to this album for a year or two, because Nopat is a big favourite at this household and I loved those little discs they released back in 2010. Therefore it was quite clear that Nopat has to take the album of the month spot, if the album will be as good as I hoped it would. And it definitely turned out to be just as good as I had hoped. Cosy sunday afternoon is actually a perfect time to write a few words about the new Nopat album Kadun tuolla puolella, because this is a great sunday album. Even some minor stomach bug can’t stop me from enjoying the subtle beauty of the everyday that Nopat injects to my heart. Kadun tuolla puolella is a comfortable place to be and these fairly simple but thoughtfully crafted easy-flowing folk pop songs are able to turn a vulnerable moments into something manageable. Something very Finnish is gently colliding with delicate 90s american indie (perfect soundtrack for painting a house red in the early hours). Gentle, warm and captivating. Well done.

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/34167893″ iframe=”true” /]
 
Nopat Website

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Album of the Month, International music

Album of the Month: John K. Samson – Provincial

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Oh my. I should already be selecting the next album of the month and I still haven’t found the time to write about this magnificent album. So a few quick words about this masterpiece.

Canadian John K. Samson is one of my favourite songwriters. He is best known as the frontman of the mighty The Weakerthans. I’ve pretty much loved everything they’ve ever done and their last three albums have all been on my top 10 albums of the year lists. Provincial is his solo debut and it is equally amazing. The only minor “bad” thing about it is that the fans already know several of the songs by heart, because they’ve been released on two EPs beforehand. I wouldn’t have minded hearing twelve brand new John K. Samson originals. Not that it is a big deal, because a) they’ve been re-recorded b) are important part of this provincial concept c) are simply just way too awesome to be left out.

Without further ado, here’s a couple of stunning songs from John K. Samson’s solo debut. If you are looking for literate folk / indie rock of the highest order, it really does not get much better than John K. Samson and/or The Weakerthans. This album will be tough to beat in the album of the year contest.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhzguOsr7WI]

[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/30524442″ iframe=”true” /]

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