Download the title track from finnish singer/songwriter Astrid Swan's debut album "Poverina": https://www.mummypowder.com/astridswan/astridswan_poverina.mp3

New track posted today from Plain Fade, an amazing post-rock act from Finland. I've been trying to hype them for awhile now, but have held off on posting an mp3 until today. There are some bands that hook me the very first time I hear them and Plain Fade are definitely one such group. Even hearing mere one-minute mp3 samples of their work was enough to get me excited, and that's saying something. Some bands grow on you with time, some you just know, intrinsically, without question. Catch my drift? The sound bears the typical trappings of the genre, such as the epic soundscapes and drawn-out dynamic passages, but there's more to it than that. Like countrymen Magyar Posse, they possess a melodic sensibility that I can't adequately describe, except to call it finnish. It's dark and foreboding, but it's not metal. The only other band I can possibly compare them to would be Kayo Dot, as both acts share similar qualities such as the high, keening vocals and a refreshing rhythmic looseness that allows the songs to flow and breathe. Plain Fade might not be at the same compositional level as Kayo Dot yet, but you can tell they have grand ideas, they just need more time to develop them. My only complaint is that they rarely get quite as heavy as I'd like, but on the other hand, I must admit that the level of restraint works in their favor as it keeps them from becoming yet another band with only two volume settings. By far one of the most promising and audacious debuts I've heard this year. Dial-up users beware - this is a long song and a big download.

finnish experimental/noise label Some Place Else has released a new limited live CDR from label mainman Niko Skorpio entitled "To give light to that which is without". The recordings took place in Turku and Helsinki last spring and are said to be leaning towards the "meditative, dark ambient, electro-acoustic end of [his] repertoire." More info and a sizable mp3 sample: https://www.someplaceelse.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=203

finnish hardcore act St. Hood has added a couple live video clips to their website: https://www.sthood.net/video.htm

New Scandinavian reviews at Aversionline include a new 7" from Swedish punks Rabid Grannies, a split 7" from Swedish power-electronics acts Shift and Operativ Permanent and a 7" from finnish hardcore act Kyklooppien Sukupuutto.

US tourdates for renown finnish act Circle:

09/02 - Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA w/Merzbow, Growing, Earth
09/04 - Arthur Festival, Los Angeles, CA
09/06 - Knitting Factory, New York, NY w/Merzbow, Jim O'Rourke and Carlos Giffoni, Double Leopards
09/07 - Ottobar, Baltimore, MD w/Urdog
09/10 - tba, Atlanta, GA w/Urdog
09/11 - tba, Knoxville, TN w/Urdog
09/13 - Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL w/Urdog
09/14 - tba, Columbus, OH w/Urdog
09/15 - tba, Pittsburgh, PA w/Urdog
09/16 - Khyber, Philadelphia, PA w/Urdog
09/17 - The Hook, Brooklyn, NY

finnish ska-punks Evilsons will be recording their sophomore album in September with producer Hannu Leiden. Look for it to be released via Fullhouse Records sometime before 2006.

Aversionline reviews the new album from finnish hardcore act St. Hood and declares the scene over there to be the new New York for metallic hardcore: https://www.aversionline.com/reviews/2586/

finnish hardcore act Down My Throat will record their second album in August to be released sometime around mid-October via Combat Rock.

Dusted reviews the new album from finnish accordianist Kimmo Pohjonen which features him improvising with French drummer Eric Echampard: https://dustedmagazine.com/reviews/2296

Lupatarkastaja posts about Lighthouse Project, a new finnish hardcore band: https://lupatarkastaja.samizdat.info/2005/07/18/lighthouse-project-demo-2005/

The website for the excellent finnish electronic/noise label Some Place Else (Skorpio, Orvo, etc.) has been updated with a slightly new look: https://www.someplaceelse.net/

finnish goth-popsters HIM will tour the US with Finch and Skindred this coming fall. Dates soon.

The Kahvi Collective posts a new EP netrelease from finnish artist Walka: https://www.kahvi.org/86.php

Music for Robots posts a track from finnish humppa-metal masters Finntroll: https://music.for-robots.com/archives/001056.html