Mika Vainio (Pan Sonic) makes a guest appearance on the new Jarboe album "The men". Here's a description of the track from the October issue of The Wire:
On "Dark Strong Sauce", Pan Sonic's Mika Vainio relates a fractured tale of a meal he shared with Jarboe. "It's a true story from when Pan Sonic was touring with Swans", she notes. "The way he says its with his beautiful accent is very sensual, and shows a private, personal moment."
Stylus reviews the new album from VVV aka Mika Vainio and Ilpo Väisänen (Pan Sonic) together with Alan Vega (Suicide): http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=3286
Sähkö Recordings has released a new album called "Kantamoinen" from Ø, one of the many pseudonyms of Mika Vainio (Pan Sonic). More info and samples: http://www.sahkorecordings.com/sahko-020.php
Vainio will start work on the next Pan Sonic album with partner-in-crime Ilpo Väisänen this summer. Expect a late 2005 release.
The annual Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll is out and Scandinavian entries on the top album list include The Hives (#53), Dungen (#69), The Concretes (#80), Erlend Oye (#88), Annie (#90), Kings of Convenience (#101), Sahara Hotnights (#240), Luomo (#261) and Pan Sonic (#291). Read more: http://www.villagevoice.com/specials/pazznjop/04/
Finland's Pan Sonic is teaming up with Chicks on Speed, The Residents, Sunn 0))) and Black Dice for the Whatismusiconathon, a tour that aims to "challenge preconceptions as to what in fact constitutes music" and will take the acts all over the globe. Here's what's booked so far:
03/02 - Corner Hotel, Richmond (AUS)
03/03 - Hifi Bar, Melbourne (AUS)
03/04 - The Forum, Melbourne
03/05 - The Forum, Melbourne
03/06 - Corner Hotel, Richmond (AUS)
03/08 - Luna Park Big Top, Sydney
03/09 - Gaelic Club, Surry Hills (AUS)
03/10 - Gaelic Club, Surry Hills (AUS)
03/11 - Powerhouse, Brisbane (AUS)
03/12 - Powerhouse, Brisbane
More info: http://www.whatismusic.com/
More Pan Sonic dates:
02/15 - STUK Arts Centre, Louvain (BEL)
02/22 - Spazio Boario, Roma (ITA) w/Suicide
02/25 - tba, Pisa (ITA)
02/26 - tba, Ravenna (ITA)
Updated international tourdates for Finland's Pan Sonic:
01/22 - Rome, Italy
02/18 - Linz, Austria
02/25 - Pisa, Italy
02/26 - Ravenna, Italy
03/15 - Geneva, Switzerland
Also from FE comes word that Finnish noise artists Mika Vainio and Ipso Vaisanen aka Pan Sonic will be collaborating once again with Alan Vega of Suicide for a release on the Mego label. Look for it sometime around March.
Along with film director Klaus Härö and choreographer Marjo Kuusela, Finnish electronic duo Pan Sonic are the recipients of Finland's State Prize for Arts. As many people have already said before, it's about time they received some more mainstream attention and recognition in their home country. Read more: http://www.fimic.fi/fimic/fimic.nsf/mainframe?readform&933112311290F03EC2256F48002FFD56
Jester Records artist Origami Galaktika is touring Europe in the fall. Dates so far:
10/08 - Aarhus, Denmark
10/10 - Potsdam, Germany
10/11 - Berlin, Germany
10/14 - Rome, Italy
10/15 - Torino, Italy w/Pan Sonic
10/16 - Torino, Italy
10/18-19 - Switzerland?
10/21-22 - Praha, CZ
10/23 - Most, CZ
10/29 - Hamburg, Germany
Upcoming Pan Sonic tourdates:
09/01 - Geneva (SWI)
09/11 - Sao Paulo (BRA)
09/26 - Berlin (GER)
10/15 - Supermarket, Torino (ITA)
10/16 - Zo< >Catania (ITA)
10/19 - Galleria Toledo, Napoli (ITA)
10/20 - Auditorium, Rome (ITA)
10/21 - Bios, Athens (GRE)
10/22 - Biennale Musica, Venezia (ITA)
10/23 - Link, Bologna (ITA)
10/29 - Le Tryptique, Paris (FRA)