Terveet Kädet in the UK

UK dates for finnish hardcore act Terveet Kädet:

08/23 - Grosvenor, London
08/24 - Henry's Bar, Edinburgh
08/25 - tba, Leeds
08/26 - Chameleon, Nottingham
08/27 - tba, Brighton
08/28 - Bristol Punx Picnic

MP3: Pekka Himanka - Jäi Lappiin sydämein

Here's a little something I picked up last weekend while vacationing in Astoria, OR, a seaside town with a strong finnish heritage. I can't say I know much about Pekka Himanka, but I stumbled across his album "Jäi Lappiin sydämein" (Lappland remains in my heart? Online translators can only do so much for me here) in a local record store, previewed a few seconds for quality control at the listening station and figured, "why not?" Who couldn't use a bit of finnish tango in their life? Besides being relevant to my interests (obviously), the chance of me stumbling across anything like this in the foreseeable future is nil. Old Suomi crooners don't just show up in bargain bins around here and it's not like I know enough to rate them, even if they did. One curious note to add: I don't remember if I've ever heard Pekka on an Aki Kaurismäki soundtrack, but he does carry the tag on Last.fm. Perhaps someone with more free time (and perhaps, finnish comprehension skills) can track down which movie(s) his music appears in? It would be good to know.

Pekka Himanka - Jäi Lappiin sydämein

Terveet Kädet to release new album in late July

The new album "Ihmisen poika, pedon poika" from legendary finnish hardcore act Terveet Kädet will be released on July 22 via Longplay Music. Apparently there's a UK tour in the works as well?

Music is not a job

All Scandinavian on the various odd dayjobs held by finnish musicians: https://allscandinavian.com/1185/music-is-not-all-glamour/

MP3: The Gentleman Losers - Ballad of Sparrow Young

Most guitar-based ambient artists seem intent on obscuring their sound source, not so with finnish duo The Gentleman Losers. There's no mistaking the origin of these sounds, though they do indulge in heavy effects now and then. "Ballad of Sparrow Young" is typical of the group: circular guitar figures overlaid by a languid lead melody along with a few other subtle accompanyments. Yes, they do stray towards the new-age end of the musical spectrum, but in typical Scandinavian fashion, feelings of melancholy erase any indications of "mere" peacefulness. And yes, I know it's also not exactly the sort of thing that will make you sit up and pay close attention, but listening does have its rewards.

The Gentleman Losers - Ballad of Sparrow Young

Heroin and Your Veins - The trigger (video)

finnish gloom-rockers Heroin and Your Veins have a new video for the track "The trigger": https://www.heroinandyourveins.net/videos/thetrigger.html

Hebosagil posts new version of 'Ei ole'

finnish crust-heavy act Hebosagil has posted a new live-in-the-studio version of the track "Ei ole" on myspace: https://www.myspace.com/hebosagil
Said cut originally appears on the band's split with fellow bad-vibe Finns Viisikko.

Baby Sweetcorn calls it quits, offers free downloads

finnish act Baby Sweetcorn has officially given up the ghost and are now offering their first four sold-out recordings as free downloads: https://www.mediafire.com/babysweetcorn

Lapko to record new album in NY

finnish act Lapko will be heading to Clubhouse Studios in Woodstock, New York to record their next album together with producer D. James Goodwin (Thursday, Norah Jones, The Bravery). Expect an early 2010 release.

Some Place Else taking pause

finnish industrial/darkwave label Some Place Else (Niko Skorpio, Ovro) is going on hiatus: https://www.someplaceelse.net/

New music from St. Hood now streaming

There are a couple new tracks from finnish hardcore act St. Hood streaming at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/sthood
The band's new album "For the dead" will be released on August 12 via Combat Rock Industry.

TV Off - Music machine (video)

finnish indie duo TV Off have a new video for the song "Music machine": https://vimeo.com/5206993

New website for the Finnish Music Information Centre

The finnish Music Information Centre has given their website a nice revamp: https://www.fimic.fi/

Eläkeläiset goes punk

Why didn't I know that Eläkeläiset released an EP of them doing humppa versions of various finnish punk classics? See here: https://www.humppa.com/jokisenvalinta/cddvde.html
Sheesh, if only finnish wasn't such an impenetrable language. Anyhow: I want it!

Combat Rock preps St. Hood album, two more 7" reissues

Combat Rock Industry reports that the new St. Hood album "For the dead" is being prepped for an August release. Also, the next two entries in their ongoing classic finnish punk 7" reissue series will be out in "about a month" and they are Unicef's "Kakimassaa" and Lama's "Nimeton". Expect preorders to begin soon.