Rambo

{mosimage}The most famous soldier in the cinema history is back! John Rambo fights another war, this time inside the jungles of Burma.

Many had lost hope of seeing Sylvester Stallone performing as Rambo once more. The time passes by, even for Hollywood stars. But Stallone surprised once more during last year bringing to the big screen a new chapter in his Rocky saga… and… a new Rambo!

Obviously, Rambo does not look here as physically strong as his astonishing previous appearances. Retired to a calm and peaceful life in Thailand, he will get immersed once more inside a bath of blood helping to a group of mercenaries to liberate some volunteers captured by the Burmese army that is massacring the local population of the Karen area. Even when Rambo looks older, he still looks sharp and dangerous.

The script is wisely written so the character does not fall into dangerous comparisons with the previous movies. Rambo is a veteran soldier, so does he appear on screen, but at the same time just his only presence causes respect. The action sequences are much more realistic and visually shocking than before. Not a movie recommended for children or people very sensitive to see how a human body can end up after receiving the impact of a big shield. For lovers of war movies and action, the result will probably make them more than satisfied.

Although from my point of view, it cannot beat the previous three movies of the saga, at least Stallone makes a good comeback showing that John Rambo is still able to kick ass even when receiving the pension. Maybe it would be a clever idea leave the hero rest in peace after an honorable last battle.

Rating 3/5. 

That band from Pori

Disco Ensemble is the band that dominates the indie rock scene in Finland. Their latest album is selling really well and soon they will start a tour in the United States after playing at the Ruisrock festival this weekend. Right before the start of their tour Finland, FREE! met Lasse Lindfors (bass) and Miikka Koivisto (vocals and keys) in the backstage at Klubi in Tampere. Their music edgy, with hardcore and punk roots, but Lasse and Mikko speak calmly, almost shy of their success. They are just some normal guys from Pori.

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You just played in Germany

Miikka: Yeah, we came a couple of days ago. We just had the time to make the laundry at home. It was good there.

Who does it feel to play the first gig of the tour in Finland?

Miikka: We are a bit more nervous. In Germany we were the supporting act and here we are the headliners. The audience know us better, so it feels like they expect more from us.

Lasse: It’s a different feeling. We have a history here. It’s easier to make an impression when nobody knows you and doesn’t know what to expect. Here it feels that we have to push it even further.

How do you think the audience will react to the new songs?

Lasse: We have to see. We don’t know.

Miikka: We are happy with the album, of course. But we haven’t played any shows with the album being released. The reaction is different when people don’t know the songs, like it happened in Germany.

Lasse: In a way we don’t want to think about the audience too much. We are happy about the record is out.

You kept a video blog while recording the album, how was the experience?

Lasse: We didn’t plan it much. We just kept the camera there and try to capture something so we could give people a taste of how working in the studio is. But it came pretty weird.

Miikka: We speak Finnish to each other, so it feels weird to change to English in front of the camera. That’s why the videos were weird. We didn’t say much.

Lasse: We just don’t have the genes to be in front of the camera.

Will you repeat with the next recording?

Both: Probably

The artwork of Magic Recoveries is pretty special. It even includes a poster. How did it come up?

Miikka: It’s made by a designer we met some time ago, Inka Järvinen. We had some discussions about the meaning of our music and the lyrics and he designed some ideas.

What is that meaning?

Miikka: Nothing really specific. We wanted to reflect the attitude.

Your schedule for the next months looks pretty busy.

Lasse:That’s what we do. We’re excited. We don’t get shows for granted. We are excited and grateful.

What about playing in the United States?

Lasse: We’ve played in a couple of showcases, but this are going to be the first real tour there.

Do you prefer playing festivals or clubs?

Miikka: Both have good and bad things.

How is playing early in a festival?

Miikka: It’s strange to set your mind to play that early. It’s difficult to get in the mood in the daytime.

Could you tell me a little bit about the early days of the band?

Miikka: I joined the band in 2000 and Lasse in 2002. The other two guys (Mikko Hakila, drums, and Jussi Ylikoski, guitar) have played together longer. It seems like it’s a long time, but it’s not that much. In the early days, the music was hardcore punk, with shouting lyrics. As a hardcore punk band from Pori , we just played, we didn’t expect instant success. It has evolved pretty slowly, very naturally.

What is your favourite venue in Finland?

Miikka: The obvious answer is Tavastia. Lutakko in Jyväskylä is good too. Both Klubis in Tampere and Turku.

Lasse: It’s different if I’m going to see a show. I prefer smaller places like Semifinal or Kuudes Linja

What is the funniest festival you have played?

Miikka: It was up North, in Tornio. The stage was high up on a hill, the sun didn’t set at all. Really surreal.

What is the craziest band you have toured with?

Lasse: Gogol Bordello. No doubt about it. It was fun to see them every night and mess around.

Did you get to meet groupies while being on the road?

Both: We don’t have any groupies! But there are beautiful girls in every country.

If you would have to pick up only one record…

Miikka: On the band’s behalf that would be The Shape of Punk to Come by Refused.

What band would you like to see in concert nowadays?

Both: Radiohead.

Spiritualized – Songs in A & E

{mosimage}After half a decade, the English led by J. Spaceman are back on the road with a new studio album.

Not that Spiritualized is a band very fond of releasing studio albums; after 18 years of existence, this is their sixth one, a double reason to celebrate the comeback of a formation that for many bands has become an object of cult. Jason Pierce seems to be in excellent shape after having gone through a serious illness, and the album streams from one good song to another during the prolific list of 18 tracks that compose this Songs in A & E.

A well balanced introductory track: Harmony gives space to more kicking melodies such as I Gotta Fire or the bittersweet Sitting on Fire. An excellent orchestral tapestry to delight your ears. If you were one of the lucky ones to see the band on live together with Lenny Kravitz few days ago in Helsinki, surely you did not get disappointed. For the rest, there is always a joy of having a new Spiritualized´s studio album to listen to once and again.

Rating 4/5.

Alec Eating his Heart Out

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Alec Empire, former member of Atari Teenage Riot, is a versatile artist: musician, producer (with his label Eat Your Heart Out Records), remixer, DJ… He has played and collaborated with an astonishing list of great bands and musicians and shook many consciences with the charged political statements of his previous band. Now, after having released his new album The Golden Foretaste of Heaven and toured all over Europe, he kindly had time to answer the questions that I shot at him.

Hello Alec. How was the recent European Tour?

It was great… this band is really what I want to do now. It feels so right. The energy, the crowd reception…everything. I wish I had thought of this much earlier. We have found a way to bring all the different elements of my music together. 

Is there any gig or venue that you specially liked? 

I never look at shows like this. We control the atmosphere with the crowd together. So we can go into any venue in the world and do it! I really liked Manchester.

I have seen that you re-scheduled more shows in Germany and France. You played in Helsinki on February. What is your opinion about Finland and the Finnish audience?  

We try to play there again. The routing didn’t make any sense this time round. But of course we kept it on our plan for this year. There is no other country which can be compared to Finland. Finland is dark, nobody is laughing…everybody is drinking haha…I love it….but there all have a strong sense of design, architecture and a certain kind of music.

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What has changed for Alex Empire´s attitude when going on stage from the times of Atari Teenage Riot?

Not that much actually. I am still me….I don’t compromise. I always do what I feel is right.

I interviewed recently Alex from Einstürzende Neubauten, and he commented that the spirit of creativity in Berlin is getting lost and it is not what used to be. Do you agree with that, or how do you see the artistic scene in Berlin nowadays?  

No I disagree with him. He belongs to another generation. And for that generation it is perhaps true, but there is so much energy where I am at…Berlin is the future capitol of music in Europe. There is no doubt about that. In Berlin artists always think towards the future. In no other city in the world there is that creative power right now.

There is no other country which can be compared to Finland" -Alec Empire-

What got you inspired for creating this new album?

Berlin. I wanted to build a bridge between the past and the present. I pushed a new side of my music, combined with my ideas about electronic music this has created a new mixture. It is funny, everybody says it sounds familiar but nobody knows what to compare it to…

You have very different roles: musician, promoter, booking agent, DJ…  How do you find time to cope with everything?

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I am not a booking agent. I also don’t promote in the traditional sense. I put nights together. But I always did that. I feel I always have to come in when other people lack the imagination. I think it’s easy. Someone once said to me it’s how my brain is wired haha…. it’s just different.

 
If you would have the chance to choose a perfect place, time and musicians colleagues to play with you the last concert of your life, what would your decisions be?

I would play for myself alone in my place. This sounds strange to other people, but I would love the chance to play and really remember my life and the situations I played these songs in…

Do you have any concert or venue confirmed for the summer festivals?

There are talks right now, but I got offered two film soundtracks, so I might have to do those (It was just confirmed that Alec Empire has composed the soundtrack for Japanese director Tadanobu Asano´s new film). I could play some festivals but somehow the line ups have become so boring… I don’t know… I am looking for new challenges in my life. Every time I go to a festival it feels like a graveyard….Festivals used to be adventurous and exciting. Now I just see sponsorship and bands on many stages… it doesn’t feel like one big party…more like watching little adverts on TV…. When I go to a concert I want to come out as a different person on the other end…

For more information:

http://www.eat-your-heart-out.com

The Finnish Photographer of Rock

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Ville Akseli Juurikkala is the most important rock photographer in Finland nowadays. His work can be seen in recent albums and official promotion material of top Finnish bands such as H.I.M. Nightwish, Hanoi Rocks, Apocalyptica, The Rasmus or 69 Eyes. International stars such as American actress and musician Juliette Lewis or Colombian singer Juanes had been also targets for Ville´s shootings. Discover with us a bit more about this fan of rock music who decided one day to exchange the electric guitar for the camera. 

Ville,you are mostly known for your work with rock bands. Are you a rock music fan yourself?

I used to play guitar and sing in various rock bands since I was 10. I was very serious about it. One of my bands even played in Tavastia. Then I got into photography about 10 years ago. And I liked more than playing. The band had to go. And I’ve never regretted that I did it.

It looks lately that every top Finnish music artist must be photographed by you. Is this the best moment of your career?

This is the best moment on my career by far, of course.  Five years ago this was my goal, what I wanted to achieve on my life. But then everything went just faster than I thought. And now I think that this all was just the start.

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Who takes the decisions before planning a photo session? It is done what you want, what the artists want, or you try to find a middle point?

All mentioned above, but I’d like add the client (record company A&R) on the list as well. But this all it depends so much about the band and the record company and all. There’s no one way.

Do you need a lot of preparation before a session, or do you enjoy more to take pictures on the spur of the moment?

I enjoy taking pictures on the field but sometimes it’s really nice to create ideas beforehand with the band.

Is there any particular picture you have taken that you feel especially proud of?

There are many, you should always be proud of your work, what ever you do. But it’s really impossible to raise some of them above others. One really good is that where Jussi 69 has collapsed on the floor of Tavastia after the show. It is “very rock’n’roll”… and very real.

You published during last year Route 69, the book you did with pictures of 69 Eyes during their American Tour. How was the experience to be on the road with them? Are you a friend of the band?

It was great to tour with them. We had a lot of fun, maybe even too much some may think. It was crazier than with Nightwish. I’m still good friends with those guys, especially with Jussi.

Do you do other projects apart from your photography side?

I’ve done 2 music videos. Hanna Pakarinen: Black Ice and 51koodia: Mustat sydämet.

You have been on tour with Nightwish. Can you tell us a bit more about the project?

It’s going to be a somewhat like the Route69 but this will concentrate not only on the band but also on the things behind, the roadies etc. On their Europe tour they had 56 people working for them, 3 busses and 4 trucks. It’s interesting to show some of that side as well.

Usually Finnish artists are quite down to earth, but has there been any artist or band that turned difficult to work with? And the easiest one?{mosimage}

Actually I was surprised the way that this one American rock band treated me when I was touring with them. People might think that they are some kind of big divas since their albums are selling millions. But then actually they treated me a lot better than any Finnish bands I’ve worked with.

What are your challenges for the future?

As I told I was working with this one American band right now. I’m sorry I don’t want to tell you the name before everything is sure. And we still have negations going on. I had one week trip with them on their UK tour and all went great. They asked me on their US tour later this year but I don’t want to tell too much before it’s all certain.

Do you have any advice for those young photographers who are starting now and could read this?

Use your soul. Let it help your eyes in your work. Don’t pay too much attention on how to use photo shop or things like that. That’s not what great photography is about.  

All Photos taken by Ville Akseli Juurikkala and extracted from his personal website.

For more information visit:

http://www.villejuurikkala.com

Helsinki Day becoming more multicultural

At an extensive free event, there will be music by among others afro-beat/soul singer Mad Ice (UGA) and soothe-voiced Brazilian singer-songwriter Thais Morell.
The evening programme will also showcase dances from Britain to Tahiti
and from Indonesia and China to the Balkans and the Middle East.

The taste buds can be pampered with the ethnic food available at the
market outside, which will also offer lots of non-Finnish handicrafts.

The cultural event at Rastis is free of charge and starts at 15.00 (music and dance from 17.30).

More information at www.rastis.fi

Long-time Editor-in-Chief of Finnish Donald Duck magazine dies

During his time as Editor, Kivekäs innovated the magazine drastically,
among other things by developing it with more varied use of the Finnish
language (with lots of wordplays, references and synonyms). He also
started printing the names of the illustrators that worked on the
stories, which had been taboo until then.

During his life time, Kivekäs met both Walt Disney (1901-1966) and legendary Donald Duck illustrator Carl Barks (1901-2000). The latter he brought to Finland for a visit in 1994.

Aku Ankka, first published in 1951, is one of Finland’s most
popular magazines, both among children and adults. It is currently read
by over one million people a week, a huge number considering the
country's population of  just 5.2 million.

Aku Ankka (in Finnish)

The Charlatans – You Cross My Path

{mosimage}Veteran English band The Charlatans come again with their 10th studio album that could be purchased by fans totally for free!

The Charlatans have never had good luck, when compared to other contemporary bands that gained them in popularity or in bringing new fresh ideas (Oasis, Radiohead). No wonder that the title of their 10th studio album is You Cross My Path. After more than 20 years on the road, many circumstances have crossed the path of the guys from Birmingham, so it has a lot of merit not only that they gave the possibility to get their new album totally for free from their website, but overall, that the album is a little masterpierce exhaling quality.

Tim Burgess masters the lyrics and the vocals and pieces like Bad Days, The Misbegotten, the easy to dance Missing Beats or the raw and furious album´s homonymous You Cross My Path. A pity The Charlatans would barely climb to the top level of worldwide musical attention, but it is still a pleasure to see how well they keep themselves alive and kicking good pop-rock!

Rating 5/5.

Black Bile – Great Ape Language

{mosimage}Sakara Records, the same company behind Mokoma, features the debut album of Black Bile.

Black Bile is the personal project of Henri Kuittinen, who is behind the vocals, guitar and programming in both the album and live. On stage, Kuittinen has other 4 musicians supporting his project. It has been produced by Janne Saksa, and we have to say that the record sounds compact, professional and fresh.  From the first introductory song Earth Will Rise, the drums push steadily from behind while Kuittinen´s vocals evolve you; a nice first step that gets perfectly backed up by the second song, Valerian, a little jewel with powerful riffs and astonishing beautiful lyrics.

There cannot be missed the typical melancholic Finnish feeling in lyrics like Light that Failed or Divorced with the World. It is a pity I could not check the band on live during Sinamore and Animal Alpha´s concert in Tampere few weeks ago, as it was supposedly to be scheduled, but for being the first studio album, Black Bile sounds like a project that can reach very high in future years, if Kuittinen is consistent and is able to find musicians that will work with him on a permanent basis.

Rating 4/5.

Charlie Wilson´s War

{mosimage}The most powerful actor in the world, Tom Hanks, is back with a thriller that touches sticky topics such as the past Afghanistan war.

Based on true events, Tom Hanks masters again his character as Texas congressman Charles Wilson and his particular crusade to help Afghans during their war against Soviet Union. And if his presence alone would not be enough, he is flanked by Julia Roberts and Philip Seymour Hoffman (this man never chooses a bad role) to shape a balanced and outstanding triangle of power, knowledge and political intrigue.

Some people surely will criticize his most political messages on the surface “pro-America”, but if you scratch a bit on the surface and assimilate what the film tells you in the end, you can see good doses of auto-critic against the reckless international intervention of USA in search of confirming their world supremacy and the consequences that balance very well the message of the movie. 

Dialogues are sharp, and the cynic approach to life of Wilson mixed with the brutal honesty and easiness for verbal attacks of Hoffman´s character work perfectly on screen. A good script, great acting skills by all the cast, and not a bad effort to understand a bit better the key factors behind the Islamic terrorist movements nowadays.

Rating 4/5.

Things We Lost in the Fire

{mosimage}Benicio del Toro and Halle Berry are a strange couple sharing the same house by sad circumstances.

I was intrigued before watching this film, having Benicio del Toro in it (just recent winner in Cannes), which usually is a symptom of good quality in whatever production. Nevertheless, although his acting skills as a heroin junkie are as good as ever, the plot of this Things We Lost in the Fire turned to be insipid, slow and with a big lack of interest.

Halle Berry´s character does not produce any friendly answer during all the movie and some situations seem to be too much pushed to force a sexual chemistry and attraction when both characters share the same roof that really never works out.  I could save a couple of details, like the charm of the young children, and the excellent interpretation as a luxury secondary actor of John Carroll Lynch, but in general, I just found the movie boring per se.

At least, I have to thank director Susanne Bier that the final has not the typical “happy ending” of most of the mainstream romantic movies, so from that point, the film gains in honesty although lacks in general of a strong script to keep the spectator´s interest.  If you are a fan of any of the main actors, maybe it is worthy you rent it and take a look at it. If not, give a try to some other movie.

Rating 2/5.

Children of Bodom – Blooddrunk

{mosimage}Led by guitar wizard Alexi Laiho, the metal wandering souls from Lake Bodom are back on the road!

Children of Bodom has become one of the most exportable Finnish metal band worldwide. Now it is about time to see released a new studio album: Blooddrunk. Being considered as one of the top black metal bands, it is not an easy task to please die-hard fans and more classic metal fans equally. This album is definitely a compromise for COB, trying to spread their music to all kind of publics.

The result is easier to swallow than previous darker albums, so that can be good and bad at the same time. Probably many old fans can feel a bit disappointed with the noise developing to more “thrashy”, but personally I like a lot the new album. It is full of power and great  guitar riffs, with the unmistakable voice of Laiho reigning in every song, but it has also some keyboards that can remind you good old classic metal from the 80s, like in the second track Blooddrunk or in One Day You Will Cry (that counts also with a brutal guitar solo).

A good step for COB to consolidate and amplify his market around the world. If you are thirsty to see the band live, you will have a good chance at the beginning of June during Sauna Open Air Festival in Tampere.

Rating 4/5.

HB – Frozen Inside

{mosimage}You thought that catholic metal did not exist in Finland? Then listen this Frozen Inside and feel the glory of metal surrounding you…

Well, if you have any doubt about the religious preferences of HB, just take a look at the song list that forms their album Frozen Inside, with names like God Has All Glory or Holy Secret, and you can have an idea. I have never been a great fan of mixing religion and heavy metal, but since this is a free world, same than others are devoted to devil, there seems to be also place for God and Love in the heavy metal church.

In the album you can find a bunch of lyrics with poetic messages and good wishes of love widespread for the Finnish guys. Musically the album sounds correct although nothing out of the hook compared to other metal bands; not a bad effort though, and listening to the sweet voice of Johanna Aaltonen is certainly a delight.

If you enjoy bands like Within Temptation or Evanescence, with a touch of religious message, then this album is for you. Not so recommended to people who wear pentagrams, Hell-sinki vampires and blood drinkers…

Rating 3/5