Regina - Unessa
Listen to a brand new tune from Finnish indiepop act Regina: http://soundcloud.com/reginaregina/unessa
Look for the band's new album "Soita mulle" to be released on September 7 via at home in Finland and elsewhere via .
Label: Johanna Kustannus
Viewing posts 1-7 out of 7
Kiki Pau
White mountain
Johanna Kustannus
I fell quite hard for "Let's rock", my first exposure to Finland's Kiki Pau. As I noted in my review, the group has an uncanny knack for seamlessly transitioning through and combining the pivotal elements of numerous sub-genres. There are a few tracks on "White mountain" that could have been on "Let's rock" (and this is not to suggest the band has been overcome by creative laziness, but to reemphasize the strength of that previous album), but Kiki Pau's newest effort brings in a number of new artistic avenues: on "Just real", The Smiths or Pixies-like tempos and approach is replaced by a driving, guitar-layered framework more akin to the rock'n'roll of the 1960s; the title track is one of the band's finest moments, easily combining elements of garage rock with an almost '70s pop feel; "I fell asleep" springs to life on the back of warm, distorted guitars -- yet another homage to the rock of past decades -- and ends in a glorious, near-psychedelic freak-out; and "Daniel Fulano" could almost be a Håkan Hellström composition (and I'm a big fan of Hellström's, so there is no backhanded compliment present in my words). Yet, as with "Let's rock", "White mountain" is very much Kiki Pau's creation, despite the links that can be made between their music and the works of others. While there are sure to be songs that will have you asking yourself "Who does that remind me of?", you'll find yourself quite content in the realization that, after two fine albums, those tracks sound just like Kiki Pau.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
New Cats on Fire collection in May
Finnish indie act Cats on Fire will be releasing the new odds'n'ends collection "Dealing in antiques" on May 12 via , compiling together much of the band's old EP and single material along with two new tracks including recent download-only single "The Hague" and a cover of "Your woman" by White Town.
Cats on Fire - The Hague
I received no less than three emails from three different people about this over break, so no doubt it is important: Finnish indie act Cats on Fire have a new single called "The Hague" posted for free download via /: http://www.cosyrecordings.com/cosy024.html
Kiki Pau
Let's rock
Pyramid/Johanna Kustannus
Kiki Pau are an elusive beast. I hear elements of "London calling"-era Clash, especially the appreciation of old-school ska and reggae, and the Kooks' songwriting in "Bobby Marley"; rockabilly and indie frameworks ensnarl themselves around angular, playful guitar work akin to that of Franz Ferdinand in "Your bedroom"; the opening of "Poses" reminds me of The Smiths' "Rusholme ruffians", only to evoke much more contemporary British references in the verse and chorus; the break in "Chronic puberty" pays skillful homage to the Beach Boys; and "Berlin" brings to mind Razorlight and Longwave. Pair this ability to freely, mischievously wheel all through the indie rock (80s, 90s, and contemporary), swing, and rockabilly genres (just to name a few) with strong, clever vocals, references to Steinbeck (in a song titled "Bukowski"), and you have a fantastic record that's made all the stronger by its complicated relationship with both melancholy and summery pop, seemingly unable to deal with one without the other.
- Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
Tigerbombs
Crazy kids never learn
Johanna Kustannus/Pyramid
Avi described this band as "like the Caesars, only Finnish" and frankly I'm having a hard time coming up with a better snappy summary of this duo's second full length release. Like their aforenamed Swedish brethren, Tigerbombs (not to be confused with British band Tigerbomb) play short catchy pop songs influenced by 60s garage rock, heavy on the organs. They describe the record as more like adolescence than adulthood, and it does brim with teenage punk energy (think Buzzcocks or Undertones). It's an innocuous enough record - fun, catchy, energetic -- but ultimately the songs do a better job of suggesting the pop classics they could be than they do of achieving that perfection. Still, it's a nice release, and I wouldn't be surprised if they sharpened up their song writing and put out a brilliant fourth or fifth record one of these days.
- Nancy Baym
Tigerbombs
Loves you
Johanna Kustannus
These Finns play keyboard-driven garage-pop very much in the same vein as The Caesars/Caesars Palace. Obviously, they aren't setting out to do anything life-changing or even all that original, but they know how to put together a catchy hook and that's what really matters. They probably could've had a much stronger album if they shaved off a couple tunes, but whatever- there's enough strong material here for me to recommend it to anyone looking for something sugary-sweet and fun to help them get through the winter.
- Avi Roig