Pitchfork reviews Shine 2009
Pitchfork reviews Finnish retro pop act Shine 2009: http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15548-realism/
Country: Finland
MP3: Hebosagil - Keskipäivän aurinko
Hebosagil's new album "Ura" finds them realizing the progression hinted at on their various recent splits (w/Viisikko and Two Beats Off), fully shedding their metal skin and emerging as a dangerous noiserock beast. Still heavy as hell, just in a different way: less low end and screaming leads, more dissonance and jarring rhythms. Still a great band too, now someone just needs to step up and press all their full-lengths to wax (not it!).
Hebosagil - Keskipäivän aurinko
Astrid Swan - Box elder
Hear a sample from Astrid Swan's upcoming album "Hits (Pavement for girls)" which, yes, just so happens to be a tribute to Pavement, the band that ruined indierock forever: http://soundcloud.com/soliti/astrid-swan-box-elder
The Silent Ballet reviews Circle
The Silent Ballet reviews the latest Circle album "Infektio": http://thesilentballet.com/dnn/Home/tabid/36/ctl/Details/mid/384/ItemID/4201/Default.aspx
6th annual Nordic Jazz Fest preview
Washington City Paper previews the artists appearing at this year's Nordic Jazz Fest in Washington DC: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2011/06/13/nordic-jazz-festival-boasts-big-acts-unexpected-sounds/
New label: Soliti
Soliti is a brand new Finnish label with an impressive starting lineup: Big Wave Riders, Black Twig, Cats on Fire, The New Tigers and Astrid Swan. Their first official release will be Astrid's new album "Hits (Pavement for girls)", due out August 17.
Hertta Lussu Ässä - Mehukkaat luut
Tiny Mix Tapes has a new tune from Hertta Lussu Ässä, a Finnish improv/weirdo trio featuring members from Kuupuu, Lau Nau and Islaja: http://www.tinymixtapes.com/chocolate-grinder/listen-hertta-lussu-%C3%A4ss%C3%A4-mehukkaat-luut
The act is now signed with and will be releasing their self-titled debut on June 21.
Vorum to record album in Uppsala
Finnish death metallers Vorum will be heading to Uppsala, Sweden in late July to record their first full-length album.
Off the Record: Mad Juana
Finnish live music blog Off the Record has a new episode up featuring Mad Juana, the band of Sami Yaffa from Hanoi Rocks/Pelle Miljoona Oy/a million other bands: http://offtherecord.fi/mad-juana/
Lapko - Horse and crow
Lapko's 3D "Horse & crow" EP is now available online in full: http://www.lapko.com/3D/
Bone Voyage picks up Mirel Wagner
has signed Finnish folk/blues artist Mirel Wagner and will be taking her self-titled album, previously released inside Scandinavia via , and releasing it across Europe this coming fall. Listen: http://soundcloud.com/bone-voyage/mirel-wagner-no-death
Nordic By Nature in June
Berlin-based Scandinavian clubnight Nordic By Nature have a new mixtape up for June: http://www.mixcloud.com/Nordicbynature/nordic-by-nature-hermannplatz-june-mix/
As for this month's events, Rubik will be performing at Festsaal Kreuzberg on June 4 and then Vinnie Who will be coming to Roter Salon on the 17th.
Splendour signs Siinai
Norwegian label (Casiokids, Harrys Gym) has announced the signing of Finnish "Krautpop" act Siinai, apparently a very popular sound these days (see: Torpedo, This Is Head and many many others). Look for the band's debut album "Olympic games" to be released this summer and/or check out the video for the tune "Anthem part 1&2" right here: http://youtu.be/COIM2NJk8B0
theartsdesk reports from SPOT
theartsdesk reports on this year's SPOT Festival: http://www.theartsdesk.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=3797:the-arts-desk-in-aarhus-spot-festival&Itemid=29
Highlights for the UK-based author include Our Broken Garden, Oh Land, 4 Guys From the Future, Helsinki Poetry and one artist I particularly like, Hymns From Nineveh.