Onoila – Yötulet EP
A fairly new Turku-based band Onoila was a bit of a surprise entry to my Finnish albums of the year 2015 list. It really charmed me during the last few months of the year. A couple of days ago they released their new excellent Yötulet EP. Pauli Laasonen is a very good new songwriter who is getting better all the time. He also has his back covered, because there’s cats, tigers and other indie heroes playing in the band. I like the whole thing, but I’m especially fond of this title track Yötulet that you can hear below.
Nick Procyshyn – By the Hallow
I don’t know much about folk singer-songwriter Nick Procyshyn, but I’m listening to him right now instead of sleeping and he has a great thing going on. He seems to be a very good songwriter and there’s something so sweet in that voice. His album By the Hallow came out few days ago and it’s available at Bandcamp. I need to go back there tomorrow for a proper listening and/or buying session, because now I need some sleep. Work day kicks of 5am and it’s getting close to midnight. I let these soft and beautiful songs guide me into my dreams. I Don’t Mind and live video for the song Upon. Both outtakes from the new Nick Procyshyn album By the Hallow that is mighty good based on this brief listening session.
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=1t0oJ_2Vjxw]
Margo Price – Midwest Farmer’s Daughter
Major news for the fans of country music. Margo Price will release an album later this month. I kept on stumbling upon the name Margo Price a few years ago when I was searching for new country artists. The name often popped up when I was reading about someone like Cale Tyson, but it was difficult to find the music. This is now about to change big time, because Third Man Records will release Margo’s debut Midwest Farmer’s Daughter on 25th of March.
I’m not sure will I get crucified, if I say that perhaps I haven’t been that enthusiastic about the first single Hurtin’ (on the Bottle). I like it. I like it even a lot, but it still wasn’t anything that special to me. However, I really love the other two outtakes About To Find You and this Hands Of Time that just surfaced a few days ago. This is such a brilliant song and I’m so eager to hear the whole thing in a few weeks time.
And here’s the music video for the first single Hurtin’ (On The Bottle).
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=LtxUDSRfmto]
Matti Jasu & The Loose Train – Gone To The Dogs
I’ve been pushing this further, because I kind of wanted to make a better and bigger post about this one instead of these short news entries that I throw left, right and centre. Well it looks like that’s not happening, so better get this one still done because it’s one of my early 2016 favourites when it comes to Finnish releases.
Matti Jasu & The Loose Train are back on the driveway with a new album Gone To The Dogs that came out in February. I’ve been a Matti Jasu fan since the Goodnight Monsters days and have enjoyed all of his releases. Gone to The Dogs is no exception and might well be the best of the bunch. This is mostly a damn good melodic pop album, but also those Neil Young-influences still push through in some of those long guitar-driven slightly folk-y rock treasures. Gone To the Dogs is one of the most delightful Finnish releases of the year so far. Maybe the overall sound leaves a little bit to be desired, but it’s not a big deal. I dig the DIY spirit and I prefer this over anything overpolished that lacks the living sense.
Gone to the Dogs is available as CD/Digital download on his bandcamp. You can also find copies at 8raita record store here in Turku. This is Race You Down to The Ground from the album.
And here’s the music video for the album opener What Goes On that I posted a while back. It’s a great video, so it deserves another go.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1xbuk_Jkkc]