Finnish music, Headline, News

Hiljaiset kallot, Salaliitto & Janne Tapio

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hiljaisetkallot

There hasn’t been enough Finnish music here lately. Let’s make amends by posting some of my recent favourites.

First we have Hiljaiset kallot and their debut 7″ single Miespaikalla Ruotsiin / Kaunis nainen. It’s been out for a while on Fonal Records and it’s definitely a crime that it took me this long to post it. Hiljaiset kallot carries the torch lit by the forever lovely TV-Resistori and delivers a couple of outstanding and unique pop songs. This one is the a-side Miespaikalla Ruotsiin.

Hiljaiset kallot Website

salaliitto

I posted about this single by Salaliitto a while back, but a reminder is in order because I just keep on listening to this all the time. Plus I still haven’t posted this b-side Kaikilla on aikaa, which is one of my favourite Finnish songs of the year. I can’t wait to hear the full-length. I probably have to wait for a long while though because getting those vinyls pressed takes ages these days. The single is available on their Bandcamp. This is Kaikilla on aikaa.

Salaliitto at Facebook

jannetapio

Janne Tapio released his self-titled debut album early in the summer. I remember this guy from Supernova Crush. Maybe that’s why I get all these Posies-vibes and melodic power pop vibes even though this doesn’t have that much to do with that. Anyway, together with Jussi Suonikko (whom you might remember as the violin/mandolin maestro of Hi-Lo & In Between), Janne Tapio has created a very good folk-tinged pop album. This is Hälytyskello from the album. You can buy/listen to the whole album on his Bandcamp.

Janne Tapio at Bandcamp

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Featured, Finnish music, Headline, News

Maanvaiva & Hate Paper Doll

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maanvaivaa

My favourite song yesterday, today and probably tomorrow as well is Kalpeanaama by Maanvaiva. There isn’t too much information available on this internet thing, but what matters is that their debut release Tuuli / Kalpeanaama 12” maxi is now out and available on Gearwheel Records. I like both songs, but my favourite is definitely Kalpeanaama. Jukka Melametsä plays the guitar and Tom Stenman sings his heart out. I sure love that combination as a long time fan of The Refreshments and Mental Market. The maxi single can be bought from them directly (you’ll find the information on their Facebook) or pick it up from your local record store. At least Levykauppa Äx has it in stock.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJ1fSTMlcSM]

Maanvaiva at Facebook

hatepaperdol

I have a good opportunity to turn this little blog entry into a Tom Stenman special and I can’t let that opportunity to pass me by. There’s a new band called Hate Paper Doll out there. A name from a Husker Du song and a line up of Tom Stenman, Näkä Hyle, Teemu Horto and Kim Kannussaari. What’s not to love. These guys have really delivered with their earlier bands and I’m 100% sure they are going to do that again. They have just started playing live and haven’t released more than demo, but here’s Afterlife from that demo.

Hate Paper Doll at Facebook

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Featured, Headline, International music, News

A Reminder of the Brilliance of J.E. Sunde by Daytrotter

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daytrottersunde

Well I suppose I didn’t really need a reminder of the brilliance of J.E. Sunde (or Daytrotter for that matter), but I’m so grateful that they made another session with him. I’ve been a huge fan since I heard his utterly wonderful solo album Shapes That Kiss The Lips Of God. A way too unknown masterpiece that can get through all the layers you might have build around your heart.

This new Daytrotter session once again shows that J.E. Sunde writes the most inspiring and moving songs and I could listen to this all day long. I’m not ashamed to admit that I’m crying a little when I write this. I haven’t been completely able to feel my left arm and leg for almost a year, but these songs. Man, I can feel everything about them. The songs are so vulnerable, but still they contain more strength than an army of wrestlers. It just rips off all the armor I’ve built around me. There goes crippling shyness and so long low self-esteem. Sure these things will come back to haunt me, but even when the armor is closed and back on me, there’s a certain light in there somewhere and that was planted by the songs of J.E.Sunde. That light reminds me that all these human weaknesses aren’t really weaknesses at all. They are just..well.. human. This was all very naive and cliche-ish of course. The point just was and is that I extremely highly recommend either picking up his album Shapes That Kiss The Lips Of God or listening to this brand new and totally magnificent Daytrotter session. You need to be a member to be able to hear the whole session, but you can hear a few songs for free as well. Subscribing is definitely a good idea, because for a fairly small annual or monthly fee, you’ll get more great music than you’ll ever have the time to listen to. Also the most stunning moment of this session, the song Rabbit Rag and I is for members only.

J.E. Sunde Daytrotter Session
J.E. Sunde Website

And here’s A Blinding Flash of Light one more time from that album mentioned above. It was my favourite song of 2014. In fact, it very well might be my favourite song of the current decade.

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Headline, International music, News

The Songs Are All We Have (support Other Songs Music Co)

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othersongs

Other Songs Music Co recently released a rarities compilation The Songs Are All We Have. The funds raised by this compilation will help them to release more songs and more records. Supporting small labels is extremely important and a cause I believe in. Other Songs Music co is also a label that I’ve grown to love during the past few years and therefore I wanted do my small part by a) buying this lovely compilation and b) writing this little blog entry about it.

Other Songs Music Co has released plenty of amazing albums during the past five years and long may it continue. I’m especially fond of Matt Paxton, Scott Orr and Timid The Brave, but you really can’t go wrong with any of their artists/releases. Actually if you are not that much into a compilation of rarities, b-sides and demos, but still want to support this lovely label, I highly recommend picking something from their back catalogue. That’s a treasure vault of warm folk albums. Besides being a very good songwriter, label boss Scott Orr has a good ear for talent and each Other Songs release is like a handpicked, heartwarming collection of songs. The songs might be all they have, but thankfully that’s often all we need.

You can buy this excellent compilation from their Bandcamp and pick the support package you want. This is Matt Paxton and a magnificent previously unreleased song Greenville Girl from the compilation.

Other Songs Music Co at Bandcamp
Other Songs Music Co Website

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