I briefly mentioned folk band Joutomies Aleksei back in 2010 after hearing the song Kolmipäinen koira. I haven’t really followed them that closely during the recent years, but today I was on a coffee break at work and saw their FB status mentioning the release of a debut album. When I closed the factory door behind me, I searched it on Spotify and had the most enjoyable drive back home. I liked it so much that I couldn’t leave the car before the record was over. Burning unnecessary gasoline was not an option, but I just sat there in the parking lot listening to Joutomies Aleksei until it finished. I laughed a little, I cried a little and I liked it a lot. Joutomies Aleksei’s excellent debut album is out now on the small but excellent Ei-No Records. This is the opening track Kolmipäinen koira.

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Joutomies Aleksei at Facebook

Black Twig are on to something. Their new album Heliogram came out on Soliti a week or two ago and I like it much more than the debut. It’s sweeter and more melodic. Listening to Heliogram often makes me think of an old favourite band of mine, The Clientele. I really loved them back in the day (especially Suburban Light, A Fading Summer era), so I thank Black Twig for reminding me of them by writing songs like Summer Slow Down and On White that somehow catch that same spirit (without sounding like grade b copycats). I don’t think Heliogram as a whole is going to be one of my biggest favourite albums this year, but there sure are magical moments that I love to bits. For example that song I mentioned, Summer Slow Down, is just magnificent and worth all hearts. This however is the first single Pastel Blue.

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The Black Twig Website