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Albums Music

45 Degree Woman – Revival

{mosimage}The lovers of the Spanish speaking mysterious woman are back with another superb studio album!

Since I saw them live at Tuska festival in Helsinki a couple of years ago, I am totally convinced that 45 Degree Woman is one of the best hard rock/metal bands in Finland. They have everything to succeed: a great vocalist, good feeling on stage and union and connection among them and also with the audience. For all the reasons mentioned above, it is also a pity that they do not seem to explode and cross the border between the mid-size venues and the secondary stages at summer festivals and doing something really big. Let´s see if with Revival things continue improving for them. Because what you have here is certainly another pearl of Finnish rock scene.

A great and polished production, guitars that sound raw but clean, the voice of Viman mastering every track of the album like if it would just be a cat playing with a plastic mouse, and really catchy songs. If I have to highlight one, I got especially fond of Close to me, but basically every one of the 10 tracks that compose Revival is good enough to be a single by itself.

You can enjoy also at our home site an exclusive interview with vocalist Miko Viman where he tells more things about the new album and the plans for the band. I honestly hope that they won´t only bright at Finnish festivals next summer, but also start to find their own space abroad, because they deserve it!

Rating 4/5.

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Interviews Music

Interview with Mika Tauriainen of Entwine

Entwine has a new and kicking studio album, Painstaned. For celebrating this, we had a great chat with Mika Tauriainen, vocalist of the band, a few minutes before they played at Klubi in Tampere. While Mika kindly invited us to a beer and cigarettes, there is time to talk on and off the record about almost everything: yoga, philosophy, football, religions, reggae…  and of course a lot of heavy metal! Tired of the eternal comparisons with other Finnish bands and the twisted ways of the music business, Mika is just back to the same position of 10 years ago when he started with Entwine, caring just basically about enjoying purely the music!

Entwine

Thanks for your time Mika. So the hottest piece of news for Entwine is the recent release of the new album, Painstained. I know you do not like analyzing much the lyrics, but otherwise what can you tell us about it compared to previous ones?

I think this is a bit more organic and dynamic. We wanted to find something new in the sound. That is why we took Hiili (Hiilesmaa) to produce it. It is hard to explain. We got out of the Finnish metal sound; guitars are kind of rustier.

In the past you already had comparisons with other Finnish bands like The Rasmus or H.I.M. and now collaborating with Hiili (who has produced the previously mentioned bands), I suppose you knew that people were going to come back to the some topic again…

Actually we did not think about it so much and I am not thinking about these comparisons anymore. If people want to compare with other bands, it is their thing, I do not give a shit, really, because I know where we are standing and I try not to care about it. So the whole feeling of the album is different than before, from my point of view. It is maybe a bit harder to get into it, it does not open so easily than others before.

Why do you say that, because I have heard it and I think that maybe it is more catchy and easy listening than previous Entwine´s albums?

Well, the whole album sounds a bit rawer. It was not so produced than before. Well, of course it was in a way more produced than before, but I am talking for example about when recording the vocals, it did not take a hundred takes to get something good, it was coming more natural and that is why it sounds fresh you know, that is why I like it, it is more rock!

There were a couple of weeks of delay in the release. What was the reason?

No comments… I was pissed. The thing is that we had the releasing party the 17th of January, but the album was not even out when we had it. We actually put the whole album out at MySpace from the 14th to the 17th so we had something for the fans there and they could have the possibility to listen to the songs.

You use MySpace quite a lot to be in contact, you also did a quiz to give away merchandise for the fans. Do you believe about these social networks being effective to keep contact with fans?

It is a very good way to find people, it is free advertising!

I am not a rookie anymore. I do not need to be the typical rock asshole" – Mika Tauriainen –

How were your beginnings as a metal musician?

I played drums for 5 years and actually the second guitar Jaani was at that band too; I started my career with him. We had a band called Billy Goes. it was kind of Seattle rock style, a good band, if you know a band called Iconcrash from Finland, the singer played drums at our band at that time and he is a fucking great drummer still.

And what was the reason to change the role and become a vocalist? You do not feel tempted to switch in some gigs the position with Aksu (Entwine´s drummer who plays vocals in Tuomi)?

Hehehe no. Sometimes I feel like well, I would like to play drums but in general I am happy singing. I used to play the rock classics, Led Zepellin, Deep Purple, old school stuff. When I started to think about singing is when the entire Seattle wave came. Bands like Alice in Chains or Pearl Jam. The thing is that I jumped from behind the drums because I wanted to be on the front of the stage. I just wanted to sing. I never took singing lessons, maybe only ten and a half hours in total, some breathing exercises and so on. But nowadays I do not like singing much with “pure voice”, many Finnish power metal singers sing just very high and very clean and I think it is boring. Some of those singers sound just the same.

{mosimage}Now that Finland is a more metal country than ever, do you feel the scene different than a decade ago when you started?

Of course it is different. It is not so glamorous anymore. Sometimes it feels more like “work”, but I can´t say that I feel it like pure work, because after all it is fun. If we are talking about album wise, I am not thinking anymore “if it hits the charts or how much is going to sell”. Before with previous albums I could be like “ok, now it is going to be the time” and then when maybe it did not hit so big it was bad, but now I feel calmer, I enjoy music more purely, maybe in the end it takes some time to realize that it is only music. Now in that sense I feel like ten years ago, it is fun and leave the rest for the record company. If they do good job great, and if not, well, it is not my fault. At least I get to make albums and play live, and that is the main thing for me.

The only female member of the band, the keyboard player Riitta, quit a few months ago. What were the reasons?

She had a kid and she started school at 2007, so she had to stay at home, because her parents live far away and she did not have so many possibilities to go on tour and things like that. Maybe we would do a couple of shows with her, but not likely that she is going to be part of the band anymore because the kid is her priority number 1 now.

Mika Tauriainen

And how do you feel with so many metal bands in Finland nowadays. It seems that one of every three guys is in a metal band…

Yeah, and especially in Tampere. Everybody is in a band! Well, I am not really thinking about it, I know of course that there are many other bands, but I am over that. It is not about competition for me. I am doing my job, and if somebody likes it, it is good, and if somebody does not, I do not care. Maybe it is because I am not a rookie anymore, I am not 20 (Mika is 34) so I know my place. I don´t need to be the typical rock asshole, like I see with some other people.

What is coming next for Entwine? I know you will be playing more in Finland and other places like Russia, so then…?

There are plans to go to play to USA, I don´t know exactly when, but maybe in autumn hopefully. We were talking also about going to Spain. Let´s see what is going to happen. In Moscow I have been once before…and basically we were drunk the three days we spent there. We had a release party and then took the train for 12 hours and when we arrived, we had a great hangover. I slept probably 2 hours in 2 days. I was totally fucked! Now I suppose it is going to be a bit more relaxed than that time.

Q&A with Mika Tauriainen

{mosimage}Favorite place to play in Finland?

Qstock in Oulu  last summer, best show in Finland ever!

Best concert abroad?

In Barcelona last year we had a great show! People started to shout asking for the encore like if it would be a football match. I was touched and very close to burst into tears.

Who is the guy who drinks the most in the band?

Uhm..It is Aksu, I think so. I try to keep up his “good” work…

Hobbies?

I like sports, I play tennis and badminton and football. But I have had problems with my back for the last couple of years.

Favorite drug?

Nothing hard. I only like “natural” things that grow from the earth…

Last CD you bought (not downloaded)?

I have never been collecting albums. Of course I love music. I do not remember the last one I bought, but the first one I can tell you that was Yngwye Malmsteem´s Rising Force. That album was fabulous!

For more information about the band visit:

http://www.entwine.org

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Albums Music

BGB – Kaleidoscope

{mosimage}Ben Granfelt Band offers a great album of rock with a twist of blues that sounds deliciously great!

Ben has a really long career, having played in many bands and projects including the legendary Finnish Leningrad  Cowboys. He started his debut project in 1993 and what you have here is no less than his 10th studio album. And luckily they will keep coming as good as this one. Because what you have between your hands with Kaleidoscope is a little masterpiece. Adding a new keyboard player, Kasper Martenson (who previously played with metal band Amorphis)  the band sounds better than ever. A great kicking off for the album with Julie is followed up by the great instrumentation displayed in Because we can and the great cover from David Gray Dead in the water. Basically every track could be a single just by itself, although if I have to choose a song, my highlight of the album goes for What comes around goes around.

Ben Granfelt and his Finnish fellows are able to complete a superb album that will provide with endless hours of satisfaction to the lovers of good blues and rock. Pretty enjoyable!

Rating 4/5. 

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Albums Music

Phoenix Effect – Cyanide Skies

{mosimage}After splitting up with Sunrise Avenue, it is about time for their former guitarist Janne Kärkkäinen to show what he is able to do in a solo career…

Cyanide Skies is the debut album for the solo career of Kärkkäinen after his departure in 2007 from Sunrise Avenue. Counting with the collaboration of his friends from the also Finnish band Poets of the Fall, Janne is not only able to state that he had enough talent to start alone a new career, but he delivers an amazingly good album. The record is composed by ten hard rock tracks easy to listen, with good quality, great production and excellent lyrics; in fact the album surprises quickly being very catchy and offering a good vibe in most of the songs. If I have to choose, I would highlight Perfectly Good Day, Carry Me (with an intro riff that reminds me of Pearl Jam) or the heart-lightening Hey You.

For those who thought that Janne’s career will be over after his departure from SA, here comes a frontal kick on their face. Cyanide Skies is powerful but measured, the perfect product to reach big audiences without losing the essence of good hard rock. No wonder that just after releasing it has hit the Finnish charts in a very top position. A nice surprise indeed!

Rating 4/5.

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Albums Music

Pin Ion – Take your time

{mosimage}Debut  album for another amazing Finnish rock band. It seems that the resources to give birth to great bands are never ending in our dear Suomilandia!

Founded at the beginnings of the decade by vocalist H-P Poikonen, the band has been around in Finnish and other international stages (like in Estonia) for a few years, gaining experience and having a few changes in the formation until it seems they have reached enough maturity to release a full length debut album. And the result is quite astonishing. This Take your time exhales quality from the first blowing track Burning Bridges. Poikonen´s vocal skills are some of the best I have heard recently in “new” Finnish singers and the orchestration sounds compact, with a very well produced sound, and an amazing artwork (really, the CD cover must be the most beautiful one I have seen in Finnish releases for a very long time!). The quality of the melodic rock played by the Finnish does not decrease with great other tunes like the first single Ordinary Special (that reminds me of the British band Uninvited Guest) or the touching ballad Love is dead.

I could say that this Take your time is one of the best surprises of the last month in the Finnish hard rock scene, but it seems I repeat the same every few weeks due to the big amount of amazing titles that we receive from new talented bands. So resuming, I just can say that if you like good melodic rock, you cannot miss listening to Pin Ion and checking out their live concerts. A superb debut album that hopefully will be followed up by a great success story!

Rating 5/5. 

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Albums Music

Napalm Death – Time waits for no slave

{mosimage}The fathers of grindcore, the British brutal metal band from Birminghan is back in better shape than ever!

I must honestly confess that grindcore is not one of my favourite metal genres. Maybe I find it “too much” for my taste. I usually find more enjoyable classic hard rock and metal. All in all, I must not less than recognize the merit of Napalm Death. They still sound like youngsters full of rage, not easy for a band whose members are around their 40s.Far from resting on their laurels, the album is again incendiary but catchy at the same time with a sharpened sound and Greenway´s still in great shape as vocalist.

With 28 years of career and 14 albums released, you could not ask for much more than what the British offer here; an album that will please the hardcore fans at the same time that opens a bit the door for other kind of audiences that not necessarily are into grindcore to get to like them. Definitely again a good work!

Rating 3/5. 

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Interviews Music

Interview with Finnish Accordion Player Kimmo Pohjonen

I meet Finnish accordion player Kimmo Pohjonen in the cafeteria annexed to the Vanemuise Concert Hall in Tartu (Estonia), the venue where he will be playing one hour later together with Samuli Kosminen and Proton String Quartet. Pohjonen is a very popular character in Estonia and people really love him, nevertheless the venue is totally packed and sold out to see live this talented and unorthodox musician. Opposite to the stereotype that hangs on Finnish people, Kimmo is talkative, happily speaks up his mind when reflecting about his life and work and… he is also hungry! The previous sound check took a bit longer than expected because they have a new guy debuting with the lightings and Kimmo devours mercilessly a plate of fish and potatoes while answering my questions minutes before the show:

Kimmo Pohjonen

Thank you for your time Kimmo. You have just recently released the second studio album with your band KTU, Quiver. What can people expect from it and what are the differences with the first one 8 Armed Monkeys?

The first album we recorded it pretty quickly, during the first gigs and the material was made in a few days; Lots of improvisation on that first album. So for the second one we wanted to make more a “studio album” and differently, my goal is that I wanted to get more “colors” from each person, each of us had so many good things they could make an album alone so this was about putting all that together. There was more dialogue here, I would say that in the first one it was like altogether talking at the same time and here we have work from everybody and then sometimes we shout. I like this record a lot, with some records you have the feeling that it could have been better but I am very happy that we did this as we wanted.

Samuli Koskinen (who is also an active member of the Icelandic band MUM) is not an active member of KTU anymore, although he has collaborated in some songs of the new album. What was the reason for his “departure”?

Samuli has a very busy family situation, he has a small baby and he really wants to be home. And then he also works with MUM and they try to take it easy with MUM also. So when it was found out that he was so busy it was natural that he was a bit put aside, meaning he won´t be playing in the live gigs. So in a way we are now only three so something happened for the band also, we became more communicative and maybe with a different energy than before. But when we made the recording we sent all the material to Samuli and asked if he wanted to mix something and play so… his shadow is there with us!

Is there a chance that he could come back in the future?

Well, we feel now very comfortable as a trio. If the day comes in the future that he wants to come back, we will have to see what is the situation but at the moment we continue just the three because it really works. I thought, ok it is a pity that Samuli is not with us but then when we started to play we felt like “ok, but it is a great move also”. There was also so much stuff coming from everybody so in a way now with 3 guys talking, it is easier to keep the speed.

Are there many crashes when everybody is so creative?

Well, of course we have too many ideas and we have a process where sometimes we are having arguments; it would be stupid if it would not be like that. That is the thing when 3 artists are working and they put the 110% there so sometimes we crash but it is also wonderful to solve these things.

And you are a bit different than the average Finnish guy, not keeping your mouth shut!

Yeah, as Pat says, the sign that this is made is when Kimmo is happy hehehe. I thought we were kind of sharing but then I think…umm maybe it is me! But well, anyway, it is an interesting process. I like also that we have some duets there in the record opposite to the first one where everybody is just playing, giving now more air and space.

We are very comfortable as a trio now in KTU" -Kimmo Pohjonen-

How were your beginnings as musician? I know you started quite early playing as a child.

It was a long path, a long process. I was playing folk stuff first and then playing just normal accordion music and then going to lessons, I was supposed to be a classical musician and that was at that time my really big goal, to play in big concert halls some classical material as a soloist. I thought I did not want to play accordion anymore.

So how was the experience in Sibelius Academy?

I was supposed to go to classical music department but then I changed my mind at the last minute and I heard about Folk Music Department and it changed my life upside down again. I liked the idea that it was about world´s music, it was everything, and with many different instruments. Then at the end of my studies I found “my instrument” again.

You were also learning to play and travelling around the world in Tanzania, Argentina…, weren´t you?

Yes, that was also part of that idea that I was in love with the instrument, that thumb piano in Tanzania and in Argentina with  bandoneón, but then when I realized the guys playing bandoneón, they were born for that, they are so good! For being at the same level, I should have been born there or training 10 years and maybe I would not be as good as they were. So I thought, ok maybe I should turn back to my instrument, accordion. But I wanted something different, with more electronics, more improvisation, I wanted also do solo, I did not want to think about other people if they liked what I do or not.

I met a couple of years ago dancer Tero Saarinen, you have collaborated also with him. It was interesting that for him, same for you, he likes freedom and experimenting with his dance; he traveled and studied in Japan… Do you find that it is important for a Finnish artist to travel and opening the eyes abroad?

It is more about that when you are young and you are studying, it is important to be into different things: to go to concerts, to see dance, theatre, movies… But then you have to find your own way to do your own thing and forget about the rest. Like Tero did. I learnt Tanzanian music, Argentinean music, etc but now when I do my thing I realized I did not want to put any of those things into my music. I improved learning those things but it was also about all the life before learning these things. Before you build the house, you must have the materials, and then you build your own house. I would suggest to every young guy, hey go and see different things and enjoy them but when you start to do your own things, maybe it is not so good anymore to follow those others and follow just yourself and find your own way.

How did you feel when starting to play the accordion? How do you describe the relation?

It has been rolling upside down all the time. When I really remember that day when I remember “this is now my instrument and I know what I want to do with this instrument”. That day was 24th of June, a day I was doing my first solo at Sibelius Academy. I had a good sound system there and when I was packing my instrument, I heard new sounds from my instrument with the echoes. I thought “this is the thing for me”. Finally I heard something I had not heard of anybody doing. After that I continued that dialogue with my instrument and I did not have any doubt with my instrument.  It is very difficult to develop the instrument because not so many guys have done it, but then for 10 years I have been very happy with the instrument, no problem at all. When I was a young guy I was kind of ashamed of playing accordion and now I am so happy I did not start playing guitar or something like that, because with this instrument you are always radical or innovative going on stage while with guitar everything is already done. It is not that I want to do different things just to do things nobody did before, it is just that I want to please myself with new ideas and that keeps me going.

I want to please myself with new ideas and that keeps me going" -Kimmo Pohjonen-

I heard also that you have broken many bellows in your career…

Yeah, that is a perfect example that I was so frustrated and then in an interview I told about it and somebody read it and called me and told me that he could build better bellows, and after that no more problems, I can play several concerts with the same bellows. That is how it goes, you struggle and then you find the solution.

You project a bit of a rebel image; your look for example is out of the stereotype.  Does it has anything to do with having had strict teachers in the past  and then trying to act later totally the opposite than expected?

No, I remember in the 80s that I hated all the hippies with the BMWs and so on, and I did not want to have the same look, so in a way that is being rebel.  I don´t know if something to do with music but with my personality. I wasn´t afraid of being different. That was not so easy. When you are under great teachers and then you start to do something totally different with confidence. In arts people are studying, but at same point they have to kill their “teachers” and do their own things, and some students do not have enough confidence to do it. It was like that with the first solo concert I did, I did not want to please my teachers or my father, just myself. Of course it is great if other people like it too but that is not the first thing. If you see the music people are doing nowadays, it is done just to please audiences, radio stations, buyers… I want to be totally against that thing. If there are no people in the concert, then hey I play for two people.

Kimmo Pohjonen

You have created soundtracks for movies, created music for multimedia projections, for circus, you have collaborated with Ismo Alanko… what is left that you would still like to do?

Luckily there are still many projects I would like to do. If it comes a day that I am tired to do new things, maybe it would be about time to finish with what I do. I have many ideas, but the problem is the time. 8 years ago I wanted to do a project with wrestlers. In Finland there was a tradition from 1920s to 1960s, there were wrestling competitions and when the guys are grappling, they literally farted, so they need music, accordion players, to cover the sound of the farts. It is such a great story! I even talked to some old musicians who had played in those competitions. I wish I would have been there seeing wrestling and accordion playing. Of course I would need to do it again in my own way. Maybe that project could happen next year, it is just one idea. The sound of the accordion is an endless world. I combine acoustic accordion together with electronic accordion in the same instrument. As long as I feel developing the sound and getting different sounds, that is enough for me. When I won´t feel it anymore, that will be the end of my days as an artist.

Have you had guys coming to you interested in learning to play accordion with you?

No, they have asked me to teach, but I can´t teach because I travel so much, but there has not been a guy yet who came and say “hey, I want to explore the sound as you do”. If that kind of guy would come, I would be ready to help and give some guidance. I really wish to see some day that people continue with that work on their own way. But yeah, the time is always the problem because you have to concentrate also on your own stuff.

Some years ago you did a project with Tapiola Sinfonietta, Kalmuk, and you pushed the musicians there to experiment more with their instruments, trying new positions, etc. Have you done very weird things playing the accordion?

I think there are no limits for it. If for example I want to spin around with the accordion, I do it. I want to find new things and that makes me explore. Of course for example when I see the cello musicians I play with, sometimes I can see things like “hey, this guy could do something better with that” so I try to encourage people to do something, even very small things, new for them. It is the whole idea of being human being and then you do not need to do your work exactly the same every day. You can have different rules. You have one life so you have to be carefully not to get stuck with one idea or only one way of doing things. I try to do it with myself and open my eyes and of course I do with other people also.

What can you tell me about the Earth Machine Music Tour? You played some gigs last year in farms and see that this year you will continue with it?

Yes, it is a great project planned to be a kind of “side project”, but now we will continue with it.  I did it in England and Finland and now we will go to Australia also. I collaborate with farmers, who have never performed. They are unbelievable! People are not so much into farms or countryside anymore, so when somebody shows interest about what they are doing, they are so nice and helpful! They come there with their machines, you have audience. They come in front of them and they have their machines sound with microphones. Then I sample the sounds from the farm, so basically it is music made for that particular farm. I perform with people who have never performed before, a new thing for them and me. And they really liked it a lot! It is a great reward. Some people in the audience had never watched a concert before. There are many great aspects in that project. I would like to do it here in Estonia some day in the Leigo Lake festival in Otepää.

How do you feel about being in Estonia?

Estonia is definitely one of my favorite countries. There are really always good concert here, and it is easy to come and easy to play due to the short distance with Finland. I have many friends also here.

Do you plan to make gigs with KTU?

Yes, we plan to do gigs in June-July. We have plans to play in some festivals, we still have to confirm. (Phillip, his manager, intervenes at that moment to give some names and locations almost confirmed like Ruisrock in Turku, Czech Republic, German gigs, Tallinn) so hopefully we can come here.

You always said you express yourself the best when playing solo; any chance to have a solo album in the near future?

I have been thinking about it a lot, but there are always so many projects ongoing that it turns to be at the bottom, and I wonder why. I don´t know how to answer this question. At the moment, I know that I won´t do it in a near future because there are so many projects now, but I wish I would do it again at some point.

Photos by Kalle Björklid, Mikko Hannula and Marita Liulia

For more information you can visit:

http://www.kimmopohjonen.com

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Albums Music

Samae Koskinen – Elossa

{mosimage}The follow up album to his debut in 2006 puts this young but talented Finnish artist against on the scope!

Born in 1976, Koskinen, well known in Finland among other things for his collaboration with Kauko Röyhkä, features his second studio album; a work that flows divided into episodes that count how a day goes for different characters that see the world from different points of view.

Actually, opposite to the trend in Finnish music, full of melancholic and dark feelings, the album sounds bright and light, starting with the splendid Perjantaina and following with other notable tracks like Hevonen.The album has a certain ”hippie” energy from the 60s, and certainly is a fresh breeze into the present Finnish music scene. An enjoyable work, even more enjoyable if you understand/speak finnish to decipher the great lyrics.

Rating 4/5.

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Albums Music

Tiara – Manala

{mosimage}Tiara aka Tiia Marjanen is here with her first studio album trying to make history and break through as the Finnish representative for Eurovision song contest. 

The young singer, born in Rovaniemi and resident in Helsinki, is nowadays one of the participants in the contest to choose the Finnish representative in Eurovision. Remember that since the victory of Lordi, Eurovision and everything around the contest has a big media coverage, so Tiara is the center of many looks nowadays in Finland.Taking advantage of this, here goes her first full-length album Manala. Rhythms very danceable with a lot of electronics in the background make the album suitable for the dance floors of the Finnish pubs. Sometimes she reminds me a bit of Maija Vilkkumaa, although I still prefer the vocal skills of the later. 

The album has some notable tracks like Jääkuningatar or Kolmiodraama, but in general I must admit that it is not my cup of tea. Too much predictable not adding much to the scene. The album sounds right, but the question is “was is needed?” I am sure Tiara will find her good legion of followers, and I must not less than praise the efforts of young singers that try to make their way into the competitive music scene, but maybe producers and people of the Finnish music industry would need to recycle their ideas if they do not want the pop-rock scene sound just like a repetitive sonata.

Rating 2/5.

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Albums Music

He´s not that into you

{mosimage}The last hit in romantic comedies from Hollywood counts with a more than decent soundtrack

Taking into account that the movie is a romantic comedy, obviously do not expect to find grindcore here. But certainly the selection of songs is great, mixing some well settled names in rock and pop scene like R.E.M. , Talking Heads, The Cure or The Human League with pushing younger bands like Maroon 5 or Wilco.

The introductory I´d like to by Corinne Bailey Rae is an excellent way of starting the CD, and there are some other nice surprises like the inclusion of Last Goodbye sang by Scarlet Johansson, one of the actresses in the cast of the movie, a song that does not appear in the movie.Resuming, a good soundtrack that you can always use in a romantic dinner of if you invite someone special to share good moments with you (and a bottle of good Spanish red wine ;) )

Rating 3/5 

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Albums Music

Samuli Putro – Elämä on juhla

{mosimage}Putro, well known in Finland due to his belonging to Zen Café, goes solo with this debut album.

One thing that probably you must be aware of is that if you do not speak or understand Finnish, probably you are not going to enjoy this album. Putro, a very popular character in Finland due to his work with the great Zen Café, shows his strength in the lyrics composition. Elämä on juhla is an album very classic in the way of showing a musician, his guitar and a collection of intimate tunes where he cries his soul out. And Putro certainly is a great song writer… in Finnish. So if you do not master the language, it is difficult you are going to get something clear from this.

Otherwise, the album express the “Finnish melancholia” trademark, if not just listen to some tracks like Helismaa or Elämä on Juhla, so do not expect to feel like going to party after listening to this, even when its title is “Life is a party”, although some songs are a bit more light-hearted like On elettävä huolella. What you will find is acid and clever lyrics in Finnish, and a Samuli Putro that goes closer to your heart with a more personal work. Putro delivers nothing too surprising, but a good album nevertheless.

Rating 3/5.

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Albums Music

KTU – Quiver

{mosimage}The second studio album of this magical trio is out released by Rockadillo Records, and looks even better than the debut one! 

KTU  is composed by Americans Pat Mastelotto and Trey Gunn (they can ring a bell if you are a fan of King Crimson) and Finnish sound magician, accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen. Samuli Kosminen does not continue as active member of the band due to other compromises, but this is far from being an angry split up, because the musicians have kept contact and Samuli helped in the production of some of the songs of the present album. 

Maybe the album is more “easy-listening” than its predecessor. Although still improvised and creative, is also easier to understand and assimilate than 8 Armed Monkey. I personally enjoyed it very much, but you need a special atmosphere to listen to it, relaxed and meditative. 

If you are not a fan of experimental music, probably this album neither the rest of the material that KTU could offer is going to hook you up. But if you keep your mind and ears open to new musical experiences, this band can really bring you something fresh to add to your CD collection. I think more than reading this review, KTU is such a special band that you just need to give it a try and listen to it for yourself to achieve a real opinion. 

Rating 4/5.

 

Related articles:

Interview with Kimmo Pohjonen:

http://www.freemagazine.fi/content/view/893/152/

 

 

Categories
Albums Music

Leathermouth – XO

{mosimage}Frank Lero, guitarist of My Chemical Romance, features his alternative project that turns to be…”slightly” different… 

If the Emo fans of My Chemical Romance were expecting a little brother of the band with this new Lero´s project, they are going to have the disappointment of their lives. What you can listen here in this XO is pure grindcore, no more no less. No time for beautiful lyrics, but just screams of anger and discomfort with basically…everything. Lero shows his nastiest side, which is good and bad.  Good because he dares to break the rules and do the unexpected, when the easiest way would have been to continue with the same line than My Chemical Romance. Bad because honestly, I never liked the genre. I am a great fan of metal, but when the vocalist seem to bark more than sing…it is not my jam. 

This album is surely more aimed at fans of Napalm Death than fans of My Chemical Romance. If you are into hardcore punk and grindcore, this is for you. If not, beware that this can brutalize your ears! 

Rating 2/5.

Categories
Albums Music

Free Spirit – Pale Sister of Light

{mosimage}A young but superb band that is bringing melodic metal scene into a new level in Finland! 

If in 2008 I was pleasantly shocked by Brother Firetribe, this 2009 could have not started in a better way about Finnish melodic music, because Free Spirit blew me up!With no idea of what I was going to find in the album, I got literally hooked up from the first guitar riff. It sounds basically squared; well produced, with an excellent instrumental work and with the great voice Sami Alho.

In many moments of the album, the band reminds me of Blind Guardian but in a more melodic way, although there are some other times when the band gets closer to a darker tone similar to earlier HIM´s tunes. It is difficult to choose a favourite song in the album, because almost all of the 11 that compose it stand up by themselves, but I would highlight the one that gives name to the record Pale Sister of Light and the absolutely fantastic Heroes Don´t Cry. 

If you are into AOR, you are going to love this one. And if not, it is never too late to explore the melodic side of metal. Superb! 

Rating 5/5.

Categories
Interviews Music

Interview with Mikko Viman of 45 Degree Woman

45 Degree Woman are back with a brand new album called Revival, although they were never dead. They count with one of the best live shows in Finland, they have gained step by step the heart of metal fans and they also have in the band one of the best vocalist in the actual (and very competitive) scene, Mikko Viman, who kindly answered our questions. They just need a little stronger push to break through the international charts, and we hope that their time for that is about to come!

45 Degree Woman

Thanks for being so kind to answer our questions. So the new album, Revival, is here! What can the listeners expect from it? In what ways it is similar or different to the previous 45 Degree Woman´s albums?

You´re welcome. Revival is an album about Love, Understanding, Respect and Pain. It’s filled with heavy riffs and pop melodies. The previous album was mostly about pain, now it’s more about love.

By the way, what is the story behind the name of the band?

It´s a secret. I can´t tell you anything about it. Well, I can tell you that she is a Spanish speaking lovely lady.

How did you start in the music business and when did you discover that you wanted to become a metal singer?

I started in music business about 10 years ago. In my early age, I always wanted to be a blues singer. But maybe I´m a metal singer, I don´t know. I think I´m more like a rock singer than metal singer, with blues attitude and feeling.

Your previous album How To Handle The Pain, seems to have a strong Spanish influence (my native country). You even run the bulls in Pamplona and shot a video for the single The Wait about it. How was the experience there in Pamplona, and in general in Spain?

Pamplona was a lovely place. Nice people and lot´s of sun. And I think that all you Spanish people are great!

You also used the motto “La vida sin dolor no es vida” (life without pain is no life). Is that representative of the career of your band? Have you had more painful or happier moments?

I have had definitely more happy moments than painful ones. Life is good. And love is good.

I am more like a rock singer than a metal singer, with blues attitude and feeling” –Miko Viman, vocalist of 45 Degree Woman-

Mikko Viman

You were playing together a few weeks ago with HIM, probably the most international Finnish band, in a mini tour in Finland. How did it go?

It was great! Wonderful, wonderful… Him is a lovely band to tour with.

I also know that you were in Sweden Rock, which is probably the best metal festival in Europe. Was it a good experience? Has it been the best festival where you have played so far?

I don´t know… Sweden Rock and Tuska are both great festivals.

What plans do you have for 2009?

Play in every Finnish summer festivals.

Anything you want to add for our readers?

Have a good time, all the time

Q&A with Mikko Viman

Favourite drink?

Red Wine

What has been the best Finnish band to tour with so far?

HIM

What is the craziest thing that has happened to you backstage?

Kissing deeply with a man

When you do not work with the band, what other hobbies/projects do you have?

Gym and body painting

}What is the best gig you recently saw as spectator?

Down

What situation would be scarier, to run in front of a bull or the members of the band getting free drinks all the night?

Free drinks all night