Finnish music

Kalevi Suopursu, Guggenheim-projektz, Hermaja and Rock Siltanen

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These quick spring release round-up posts now turn into a Kalevi Suopursu appreciation society. During the last few years I’ve learned that I love pretty much all music-related things that somehow involves Kalevi Suopursu. It don’t matter whether it’s Amuri, Guggenheim-projektz, Kalevi Suopursu Karaoke Show or just adding some VHS magic to songs by other beautiful artists. It’s all pure gold. Therefore one of my favorite albums of this spring has been the new solo album Yksin yksiössä that came out on Helmi Levyt on the 13th of March. A wonderful record that contain (should be) hits like Sinä olet minun sunnuntai, Mies Saabissa itkee ja Sotkin käteni vereen.

If you are hungry for more and quite frankly who wouldn’t be, one of his bands Guggenheim-projektz also released a great new album called Dersu Uzala. Here’s the lead track Matematiikon poika. Check out the whole album on the streaming services or buy a cassette version from Helmi Levyt.

Guggenheim-projektz at Facebook

Then a couple of other gorgeous Finnish releases with some video art from Kalevi Suopursu. First the debut album Kultasuoni from Hermaja that came out on the 8th of May on Helmi Levyt. It’s sad that there’s no Hullu Ruusu anymore, but thankfully both Merita Berg and Antti Hermaja are releasing equally wondrous music on their own / with their new groups. Here’s Charlotta Siren from the new Hermaja album.

Hermaja at Facebook

And last but definitely not the least on this little round up is the new magical single from Rock Siltanen. I was ready to spend the summer of 2020 singing along to a completely another song by Rock Siltanen, but that’s not what life had in store for us. We shall do the Uskon Huuhkajiin sing-alongs next summer, but Rock Siltanen has a perfect song for these current times too. Tulevaisuus ei oo sitä mitä se oli is warm-hearted, beautiful and full of empathy. A kind shoulder to lean on, if the anxiety tries to take a hold of me. Oh and be on the lookout for the Amuri debut album out in the fall of 2020. It will contain more magnificent songs from both Kalevi Suopursu and Rock Siltanen. If this blog / world still exists at the end of 2020, it might well turn out to be my album of the year.

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International music

Andrew Bryant, NQ Arbuckle and Joshua Ray Walker

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Another set of albums/songs that are dear to me and came out during the past few months. Starting this one with this southern burner from a long time favourite Andrew Bryant. I really love this Mississippi-based songwriter and his voice and words always resonates with me deeply. His new album Sentimental Noises came out on the 1st of May and it’s an excellent addition to his impressive discography. Here’s my own early favorite Something Else. Listen to / buy the whole album by hitting the Bandcamp links on the player.

Andrew Bryant Website
Andrew Bryant at Facebook


Moving over to Toronto, Canada, but sticking with the long time favourites. A new song from NQ Arbuckle was the most pleasant surprise and Love Songs For the Long Game was just as great as I expected. Oh how I’ve missed his voice and songwriting. What a song.

NQ Arbuckle at Facebook
NQ Arbuckle Website

Texas country singer-songwriter Joshua Ray Walker from Dallas is getting ready to release his sophomore album Glad You Made It. The album is coming out on he 10th of July on State Fair Records, but there’s a couple of advance singles available and both are pure gold. Here’s the music video for Voices and True Love with the Bandcamp link for pre-orders and such. So damn good and I can’t wait to hear the whole album.

Joshua Ray Walker Website
Joshua Ray Walker at Facebook

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International music

Ron Sexsmith, Joey O’Neil, Jeremy Ferrara and Maybel

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The blog was pretty much on hold for a while, because I was sick for eight weeks and just did the playlist during that time. I’ll never catch up completely, but I’m gonna make a few quick round of posts of the albums that carried me through the past few months. Starting things with the new wonderful Ron Sexsmith album Hermitage, which is probably my favourite album of 2020 so far. I loved him in the late nineties and 00s, but somewhere along the way I lost track and a there’s a record or two I haven’t even heard. Something that I need to rectify, because my love for Ron is now as strong as ever. Hermitage is full of gorgeous songs like Glow In the Dark Stars, Think of You Fondly, Morning Town and Whatever Shape Your Heart Is In. I might just as well list them all, because these beautiful, kind-hearted songs and that warm and familiar voice formed the shoulder I needed during a few long nights.

Ron Sexsmith at Facebook
Ron Sexsmith Website

While Ron Sexsmith is a long time favourite, Canadian folk-country songwriter Joey O’Neil is a new one and her music has been one of my favorite new finds of the year. Her sophomore album Ever Ahead came out on the 10th of April and it has been on heavy rotation ever since. Here’s Joey O’Neil singing wonderful Badlands for her copilot and trusty companion Oblio. Listen to / buy the whole beautiful album by hitting the links on that Bandcamp player.

Joey O’Neil at Facebook
Joey O’Neil Website

Another big new favorite has been Jeremy Ferrara and his debut full-length With Every Change. I’m kinda ashamed really, because after falling in love with the advance singles I searched my inbox and saw an old email from him that I had missed. I need to be better at that email game so such treasures don’t slip through my fingers. Anyway, this is a very heartfelt, captivating and beautiful folk album and I love it to bits. Here’s one of the personal favourites Ourselves. Listen to / buy all the other equally amazing songs by hitting the links on the Bandcamp player.

Jeremy Ferrara at Facebook
Jeremy Ferrara Website

Let’s wrap this first round-up post with a song from the magnificent new Maybel album. I found them, because I love the songs I’ve heard from Lauren Spear aka Le Ren and she formed Maybel with Ali Hendra, Loris Kecaj and Fez Gielen. Their debut album Gathering came out on Vain Mina Records on the 10th of April. Check out the whole album over at Bandcamp after listening this brilliant song called Can’t Abandon My Love.

Maybel at Instagram

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Playlist

OCTA Weekly Playlist – Episode #87

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Another week, another weekly playlist.

The huge one for this week was the new Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit album, but don’t let that beauty overshadow all the other wonderful releases. That MAITA album is magnificent and Gretchen Peters made captivating versions of Mickey Newbury songs. There’s also great new albums from Mark Fredson, Rose City Band, Jess Williamson, Natalie Jane Hill, Ben de la Cour, Zach Aaron, Pharis & Jason Romero, Glenn Thomas, Caitlin Cannon, The Sweet Water Warblers and Secret Emchy Society. That Jeff Pianki album I managed to miss a while ago, but it’s here now.

The Finnish section revisits the albums from Hermaja, Pöllöt and Guggenheim-projektz and features the new PÄÄ KII single. I’m sure there was more, so sorry if I missed something important.

The single of the week for me is the new J.E.Sunde song that finally got a Euro release this week. One of my favorite songwriters in the world. I also really loved the new Michelle Billingsley song, Jacob Miller has a couple of great new ones and there’s a new one from long time fave Steven Adams. Oh well, many others too, but you’ll find them below.

That’s it for this week. Maybe I could do something else next week too. Like some quick video posts. No promises though. I hope you are safe and sound. Love from a distance.

1. Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit – Overseas (Reunions, Southeastern Records, 2020)
2. MAITA – Darling, Don’t Take Me When You’re Ready To Go (Best Wishes, Kill Rock Stars, 2020)
3. Gretchen Peters – She Didn’t Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye (The Night You Wrote That Song: The Songs of Mickey Newbury, Scarlet Letter Records, 2020)
4. J.E. Sunde – Sunset Strip (single, Vietnam, 2020)
5. Mark Fredson – Bitchin Summer (Going to the Movies, 2020)
6. Rose City Band – Morning Light (Summerlong, Thrill Jockey Records, 2020)
7. Jess Williamson – Ponies in Town (Sorceress, Mexican Summer, 2020)
8. Natalie Jane Hill – Flooded (Azalea, Dear Life Records, 2020)
9. Anna Tivel – Minneapolis – Acoustic (single, Fluff & Gravy Records, 2020)
10. Ben de la Cour – Amazing Grace (Slight Return) (Shadow Land, 2020)
11. Zach Aaron – Shelter of the Storm (Fill Dirt Wanted, 2020)
12. Pharis & Jason Romero – Bet On Love – (Bet On Love, Lula Records, 2020)
13. Michelle Billingsley – Once in a While (single, Western Myth Records, 2020)
14. John Baumann – The Country Doesn’t Sound the Same
15. Dalton Mills – Tornadoes (single, 2020)
16. M. Lockwood Porter – What We’ve Lost (single, Black Mesa Records, 2020)
17. CJ Stranger – Fool’s Gold (single, 2020)
18. Brian O’Brien – A Picture of My Mother in a Landscape (single,
19. Thanya Iyer – Always, Be Together (single, Topshelf Records, 2020)
20. Ainslie Wills – Two Strong Hearts (single, 2020)
21. Jacob Miller – Get Your Love (Quarantine single/ep, 2020)
22. Iris Marlowe – Forever Starts Today (single, 2020)
23. Glenn Thomas – She Is Leaving (Reassure Me There’s a Window, Palace Flophouse Records, 2020)
24. Caitlin Cannon – Daddy-O Mine (The TrashCannon Album, 2020)
25. Steven Adams and the French Drops – Bring on the Naps (single, Fika Recordings, 2020)
26. Starflyer 59 – This Recliner (single, Velvet Blue, 2020)
27. PÄÄ KII – Kerran puliukko, aina puliukko (single, Rock’n’Roll Bullshit Records, 2020)
28. Tedo Stone – Swann Song (single, Laser Brains, 2020)
29. Parsnip – Treacle Toffee World (Adding Up EP, Anti Fade Records, 2020)
30. Skyscraper Stan – Words Like Repression (single, Toothfish Music, 2020)
31. Secret Emchy Society – Dance Like The World is Ending (The Chaser, 2020)
32. Mike & The Moonpies and Johnny Bush – Say It Simply (single, Prairie Rose Records, 2020)
33. The Sweet Water Warblers – Wishing Well (The Dream That Holds This Child, 2020)
34. Jeff Pianki – Julie in July (Remember it Now, 2020)
35. My Terrible Friend – That Thing You Do (single, 2020)
36. Jade Imagine – Coastal Pines (single, Marathon Artists, 2020)
37. Adeline Hotel – In a Way (Solid Love, Whatever’s Clever, 2020)
38. The Magnetic Fields – When She Plays the Toy Piano (Quickies, Nonesuch Records, 2020)
39. Guggenheim-Projektz – Matemaatikon poika (Dersu Uzala, Helmi Levyt, 2020)
40. Hermaja – Kuulen äänesi (Kultasuoni, Helmi Levyt, 2020)
41. Pöllöt – Matalaan veteen (Taas vähään aikaan, Svart Records, 2020)
42. Sylvia Rose Novak – Shadow (Bad Luck, Due South Records, 2020)
43. Andrew Hibbard – We Once Did Believe (Sofaburn Records, 2020)
44. Will Stewart – Night God (Way Gone, Cornelius Chapel Records, 2020)
45. Neil Young – Try (single, Silver Bow Productions, 2020)

Playlist link

Oh and do buy the vinyl/cd/download. Spotify and other streaming services are perfect for these introductory purposes, but try to buy at least the music that matter the most to you

If you are looking this after a week has gone, the embedded Spotify will show the latest playlist. I’ll just update the same playlist because a) if someone wants to follow it, they can just follow that one list and will get a new set of songs each Sunday b) so that I don’t have a trillion of different playlists on my Spotify account.

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