Viola pays tribute to departed friend and sound engineer Henry "Henkka" Waldén, a man who worked with many prominent finnish punk/indie acts: https://www.ifsociety.com/viola/news.php?newsid=54

The new album "Fantom zone" from finnish act Jolly Jumpers is now streaming in its entirety at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/jollyjumpers

finnish girlpunks Pintandwefall have a great new track up at myspace called "Jail": https://www.myspace.com/pawf

Fullhouse Records will be putting out the debut album "Rude awakening" from heavy finnish hardcore act Third Man Down on October 8. Preview here: https://www.myspace.com/tmdhc

finnish act Lodger has updated their website with samples from the forthcoming album "Honeymoon is over", due out November 19: https://www.lodger.tv/

finnish rockers Rite has confirmed that their new record "Death I hear you calling but I can´t come home rite now" will be out October 8 via Longfellowdeeds Records/Multiplatinum Records.

finnish rockers Boomhauer will head to the UK in October:

10/11 - The Canteen, Barrow-in-Furness
10/12 - Boot and Shoe, Ackworth
10/14 - The 12 Bar Club, London
10/15 - Riffs, Swindon
10/16 - Ryan's Bar, Derby
10/17 - Scruffy Murphy's, Birmingham
10/18 - The Mad Ferret, Preston

finnish act Lau Nau is kicking off a run of US dates tonight:

9/12 - The 3rd Degree, Asbury Park, NJ
9/13 - Empty Bottle (Wire AIMM Festival), Chicago, IL
9/14 - The Picador, Iowa City, IA
9/15 - Rainbo, Chicago, IL
9/17 - Mills Gallery at the Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA
9/18 - The Marvelous Music, Philadelphia, PA
9/19 - Knitting Factory, New York, NY

finnish indiepop act Kiki Pau's new video for "Your bedroom" is now online: https://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=42543904

Killing the Legacy on the demo from mid-90s finnish hardcore act Morning After: https://killingthelegacy.blogspot.com/2008/09/business-city-hardcore-early-years.html

Ovi Magazine interviews finnish act Underwater Sleeping Society: https://www.ovimagazine.com/art/3490

MP3: Mikko Singh - Iloitkaamme

Having met Mikko Singh briefly during my visit to Stockholm earlier this summer, I can confidently say that his new album "Uskotko että siellä on kukkia?" ("Do you believe there are flowers there?") is a direct reflection of the man behind the music. Besides representing his broad cultural background - Punjabi, finnish, Swedish, maybe more - it also reflects his sunny disposition. At least that's the impression I got as Mikko was all smiles and this music is pure sunshine. As always, Mikko plays every instrument himself and he's got quite a collection. This particular track, "Iloitkaamme" ("Let us rejoice"), is actually one of the more straightforward, traditional-sounding pieces on the album as its mostly guitar based, but there's plenty of other pieces with sitar and other ethnic strings plus accordion, various percussion implements and probably a whole bunch of other stuff I can't pick out so easily. He's also cut way back on the vocals and only sings on the final track which at first was kinda disappointing, but the more I listen, the more I think I understand. This is music for tinting your life with color without overwhelming it. It's meditative and blissful and vocals would only serve as a distraction. As the first signs of autumn begin to creep into the air, it's also the perfect soundtrack for squeezing out every last bit of sunshine you can. Thanks Mikko, for helping me forget about the dark days around the corner.

As with The Goner, this is underground DIY music that demands a larger audience. Head to myspace for more: https://www.myspace.com/mikkosingh

Mikko Singh - Iloitkaamme

As promised, the new album "Cult" from finnish metal act Medeia is streaming at myspace: https://www.myspace.com/medeiaband
A bit too "core" for my tastes, but they certainly have tons of energy.

Check out the trailer for "Aldebaran Rising", a movie featuring new music from finnish postrock act Magyar Posse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EFRqcS96kg

Tapes, the finnish indiepop band of Tigerbombs member Jukka Salminen, will release their sophomore album "Aloha!" on September 24. More info and tourdates: https://www.myspace.com/tapesrapesapes