"Doing Donuts" by Matti Jasu

 

Perhaps we should apologize at the outset, because "Doing Donuts" is one of those songs that invades your brain and won't let go. You may find yourself humming it in the lunch line, or while waiting for the bus. It just won't let go. And why should it? It puts a bounce in your step, prompts you to stand taller and gives you a jolt of energy. The lyrics aren't quite as happy as all that, focusing on societal rot and a personal feeling of going in circles. But damn, it is a fine song!

The artist is Turku, Finland musician and songwriter Matti Jasu. The song is a digital single and is out now. See the Bandcamp link below.

Matti Jasu · Matti Jasu - Doing Donuts

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"Ways of the World" and "Muscle Memory" by Telephone Romeo

 

Please meet Aleksi Skippari, a Finnish musician and producer. He has announced that his project Telephone Romeo has come of age, and will be fully unveiled June 5 via his self-titled debut album. You can sample Aleksi's robust and wide ranging talent on two single releases from the album, "Ways of the World" and "Muscle Memory". The first is a rollicking garage rocker, the second is a soaring synth banger. Very good stuff, we think.

The ten track album will be released via Soliti Music. Aleksi sang and played guitars, bass, and keyboards. Samuli Kesti played the drums.

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Various links for "Ways of the World"

Bandcamp for "Ways of the World"

Bandcamp for "Muscle Memory"

"Off The Wall"/"Butterfly" by The New Tigers

 

According to our records department, we first covered Turku, Finland's The New Tigers in 2011, so the band and WYMA have been in a non-exclusive relationship with each other for 14 years (how very modern, of us). While the band's musical endeavors don't fall into a rigid compartment, they generally play a densely melodic brand of guitar pop -- perhaps a more shimmering, shoegazey Yo La Tengo. While they haven't been as active as we would like in recent years, they have dropped a thrilling surprise in the form of new single, "Off The Wall"/"Butterfly". The lead track is robust and best played loud, while the second song shimmers with no percussion and the guitars taking the front of the stage. We think these songs are among the band's best work. And that gives us happy hints about the planned 2026 album which will include both of them.

The New Tigers are Appu Jasu, Valtteri Virtanen, Janne Kauppinen, and Nico Kivikangas. The recording is out now as a digital release via Helsinki's Soliti Music.

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Bandcamp for "Off The Wall"/"Butterfly"

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Pink Chameleons - Harmony

 

Sometimes there is nothing more satisfying than sitting back and letting prime cuts of psychedelia surround you. And frankly, there doesn't seem to be much prime psychedelic music these days. However, Paltsa-Kai Salama and his Pink Chameleons mates are here to save the day. In past outings the band was more guitar pop and punk oriented. But for their new album Harmony, the Finnish trio deliver 10 songs that evince a deep mastery of the psychedelic arts. The sound is dense and dynamic, with reverb and fuzz riding throbbing, booming rhythms. The effect is both colorful and hypnotic. There are hints of Black Rebel Motorcycle and Jesus and Mary Chain, but Pink Chameleons are more adventuresome and adept than the former and more devoted to the genre than the latter. We could say that we haven't heard a psychedelic album this good in a long time, and it is true. But more than that, it is one of the more satisfying albums we have heard lately.

Pink Chameleons are Paltsa-Kai Salama (vocals/guitars/electric sitar/organ/mellotron/songwriting), Antti Sauli (bass), Ville Hopponen (drums/percussion). Harmony is out now via Helsinki's Soliti Music.

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"Draggin' On" by Pink Chameleons

 

Finland may not be on the radar of most indie pop fans, but it has been on our radar for a couple of decades. Finnish artist produce memorable music in the pop, metal, and experimental spheres. One of our favorites is Pink Chameleons. This is a group that isn't tethered to their past -- having recorded fine pop and punk material in the past, it seems that they are adding psychedelia to the mix on their upcoming LP Harmony. And yes, they are as adept in psychedelia as the are in everything else. Treat your ears to "Draggin' On".

Harmony will be released on January 31 via Soliti Music.

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"Säbä" by The New Tigers

We have long been fans of The New Tigers, and more recently we have lamented their absence from the recording studio. But the Finnish fuzz guitar band are back, and have followed the sage advice that if you are going to resurface after an extended hiatus, it is best done in a way that assures attention (somewhat like this blog beginning to post again after a week off). Their new single "Säbä" echoes the familiar TNT with a spot-perfect guitar arrangement. But in an startling move, the vocals feature no members of the band, but rather the voice of Jani Nyberg (Finnish ice hockey player, we believe) speaking in Finnish. We admit that we don't speak the language, but the overall effect is very pleasing to us. It is somewhat similar to Public Service Broadcasting, a UK band of which we are fond.

The single is out now via Helsinki's Soliti Music, and consists of two tracks: "Säbä" with the vocals and an instrumental-only version. Give it a try and broaden your musical experience.

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"Clear" by Kaspar

 

The distinctive rumble of Moog synths introduce "Clear", the new single by Finnish band Kaspar. The lovely and sincere song is the band's first recording for their new label, Helsinki's Soliti Music. The single is paired with "Who Am I" which first became available in the autumn of 2023. Kaspar's music has always involved guitars in the past, so this synth outing is a new direction for them, and we think they are on to something good.

Kaspar is John McGregor, Mikael Hakkarainen, and Tuomas Hakkarainen. The released a full album in 2009. Both John and Mikael have worked as solo artists as well.

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Bandcamp for "Clear"

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Bandcamp for "Who Am I" (fall 2023 single)

"Fade" by Juppe

 

"Fade" just makes our day! It sounds like it sprang out of the funk scenes of Philadelphia or Detroit in the late '60s or early '70s. Our wonderment increases as we discover it is a contemporary tune by Finnish songwriter and musician Juppe (Julius Kasperi Jappinen). The single is out now via Soliti Music. And since Juppe is signed, we hope this means more of his music is coming our way.

In addition to Juppe, the players were Nestori Majoinen, liro Sivula, Saku Kaukiainen, Aapo Soulanto, Leei Haapanen, Joonas Nurela, and Hp Siikasaari.

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"In The Woods" by Astrid Swan

 

Last year we wrote the following about Astrid Swan's LP D/other: "...songs that feature literate and poetic storytelling and ... compelling vocals. ... Don't miss this album, it is absolutely terrific." And if you did miss the album, consider this your reminder to rectify your omission. However, the purpose of this post isn't to grant you a second chance, although it does so, it is to share the good news that one of the finest tracks from D/other, "In The Woods", is now available as a single. It is a song about sadness and the value of accepting your sadness to allow you to go forward. And it is absolutely gorgeous.

The single is out via Helsinki's Soliti Music.

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"The Good Times Are Coming Your Way" by Knife Girl

 

Now 22, Lili Aslo began releasing music nine years ago. After using various professional names, she settled on Knife Girl in 2021. We are completely unaware of the reason that name was chosen, but we will opine that her music is the sharpest of pop/rock with a big, euphoric sound and plenty of bounce. Her first album as Knife Girl will be Uniform, and you can test drive it with new single "The Good Times Are Coming Your Way". It is out now as a digital release.

In addition to Lili Aslo, the band is comprised of Kalle Kauranen (bass), Joona Kinnunen (drums/bongo), Anttoni Hill (guitar), Eetu Tuominen (guitar), Laura Salmenkallio (guitar), Reko Kalkaja (piano/synth), and Aapo Soulanto (saxophone/synth). Uniform will be out September 28 via Soliti Music.

KNIFE GIRL · The Good Times Are Coming Your Way

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Various links for single

"Keep Me In The Dark" by Team Play

 

Just when we were looking for a good song for the end of a Saturday evening at home, we discovered "Keep Me In The Dark" in  our inbox. The dramatic pop song is the creation of Team Play. The most recent signings to Helsinki's Soliti Music, Team Play is a duo consisting of Minja Koskela and Tapio Viitasaari. As demonstrated by "Keep Me In The Dark", Minja and Tapio seek to create romantic pop music with Gothic shadows. We think they do it well.

Soliti · Team Play: Keep Me In The Dark

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Pintandwefall - Seventh Baby

 

Pintandwefall may have been chosen as a frivolous name. If so, it isn't surprising as the project was formed by musicians with other established projects, and this one may have been a bit of an experiment. But with six previous albums as well as EPs and videos, this Finnish band has proved to be both serious and seriously good. Their latest creation is the just released Seventh Baby. Begun via the exchange of demos after the beginning of pandemic-induced isolation, the album has been enriched by the the contributions of multiple songwriters enhancing each other's contributions. The result is a shoegazey guitar pop with wit, sensitivity, hooks, and plenty of muscle. An album this good deserves to be heard by many people. Buy it and play it for friends. Add the songs to playlists. Mention it in random conversations. Will it work? We don't know. But if you do it we won't feel so alone doing it.

Pintandwefall are Sanna Komi, Ninni Luhtasaari, Ringa Manner, and Iiti Yli-Harja. Seventh Baby is out now via Helsinki's Soliti Music.

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"Aihai" by Pintandwefall

 

We are certain that it is due to long-time conditioning, but the word "pint", alone or in combination with other words, triggers happy sensations. And those happy sensations include our feelings in learning that Finnish indie pop band Pintandwefall will release their new album February 25. Titled Seventh Baby, it will be available in vinyl and digital formats via Soliti Music. We will have more for you closer to the release date, but we can share the first single, the soaring "Aihai.

Pintandwefall are Sanna Komi, Ninni Luhtasaari, Ringa Manner, and Iiti Yli-Harja, all of whom are involved in other excellent projects as well. They have released six albums and additional EPs and videos.

Soliti · Pintandwefall: Aihai

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Color Dolor - Blurry Things

 

Finnish duo Color Dolor are versatile, with past recordings bearing elements of dreampop, electronica, R&B, and club music. However, for the recently released Blurry Things Stina Koistinen (vocals) and Nicolas "Leissi" Rehn (instruments and programming)  have focused a bit more tightly in the dreampop realm. The promo promises magical sounds and, to our ears, the band delivers on the promise. The songs on Blurry Things are bright, colorful, and dynamic with a plentitude of delightful details sprinkled in like extra ribbons on the presents we opened last month. This album really is like just now finding a lost pile of presents that were overlooked at the side of the overstuffed chair on Christmas morning.

Blurry Things is out now via Helsinki's Soliti Music.

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"Night" by Verandan

 

Finnish band Verandan has just released their third single of the year. "Night" is a mid-tempo gem with a robust rhythm, sparkling instrumental flourishes and folk-rock vocals reminiscent of New Zealand stalwarts The Bats. The song originally appeared on compilation released by Spanish label Kocliko. A superb song, it is hard to believe that it didn't make the last album. The single is out now via Helsinki's Soliti Music.

Verandan is one of our favorite bands and we are happy to report that they will be recording a new album in 2022. Its members are Ville Hopponen, Kaarlo Stauffer, Aki Pohmankyro, Sampo Seppanen, and Aleksi Peltonen.

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Various links for "Night"

Astrid Swan - D/other

Addressing themes of sleep and dreaming, as well as motherhood and mother-child relationships, Finnish singer songwriter Astrid Swan has created a lush and dynamic new album that has given us a brain orgasm. Titled D/other (taken from a term Swan encountered in her Phd research), it consists of ten songs that feature literate and poetic storytelling and Swan's compelling vocals. Swan's dramatic vocals are well-matched by the fulsome arrangements, highlighted by Swan's piano, rich details and polished production. Don't miss this album, it is absolutely terrific.

Astrid Swan wrote the songs and sang, as well as played piano and acoustic guitar. Additional players were Mikael Hakkarainen (guitars), Johannes Salomaa (horns/keys), Alina Toivanen (drums), Veli Kauppinen (bass), and Owen Pallet (strings).

D/other is out now via Soliti Music.

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"Luxuries" by Astrid Swan

 

Today's first post brings you the third single from the upcoming D/other by Finnish award winning singer songwriter Astrid Swan. A perceptive and incisive songwriter and lovely vocalist, new music from Swan always is a cause for excitement around WYMA HQ. "Luxuries" is no exception, expressing a positive outlook and celebration of the moment in the face of life's uncertainties.

D/other is Astrid Swan's seventh album, and it will be released October 8 via Soliti Music.

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Various links for "Luxuries"

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"Not Your Mom" by Astrid Swan

 

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Astrid Swan has announced a new album titled D/Other. The album, her seventh full length, is said to focus on the topic of motherhood, both from the perspective of a mother and a daughter. Today we bring you the charming pop track "Not Your Mom", which addresses the one time of day when a mother is not serving as a mother -- when she is asleep. The song has an engaging bounce and bright tones. Quite frankly, we cannot think of a better song to kick off the first day of our work week.

D/Other will be out October 8 via Soliti Music.

Soliti · Astrid Swan: Not Your Mom

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Pink Chameleons - Peace & Love

Today we get another fine indie rock album from Finland. The title of the album is Peace & Love, and the band is Pink Chameleons. Just as chameleons can change their hue to match their environment, this Helsinki three-piece adeptly changes genres to match the songwriter's desired mode of expression. Paul McCartney's Wings album was an inspiration for this album specifically because the former Beatle tackled multiple genres. Based on the evidence, Pink Chameleon's ambition has been rewarded with a fine and varied set of songs. In my opinion, "Spacedog" is a perfect update of '60s garage rock/psychedelic nuggets genre. "Slow Me" seems to channel '70s guitar hero psychedelic rock, while "Horsewalk" lets the band give free rein to their country stylings. I also am particularly fond of the robust, but more guitar pop-leaning closer, "Rainy Days", and its twin sibling "Hot Dog". Variety is good, and Peace & Love is very entertaining variety.

Pink Chameleons are Paltsa-Kai Salama (vocals/guitar/keys/songwriter), Antti Sauli (bass), and Kimmo Godtfredsen (drums/percussion). Backing vocals on certain tracks were provided by Tytti Roto ("Run and Hide") and Joni Seppanen ("Hot Dog"). Sax on "Pink Crush" and "Slow Me" was played by Jussi Hurskainen. Peace & Love is out today via Helsinki's Soliti Music.

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"Open Sea" by Verandan

One of my favorite indie pop bands is Finnish five-piece Verandan. Led by singer and songwriter Ville Hopponen, their music is emotive, dynamic and melodic. For 2021, Verandan is focusing on a series of singles. The latest is a widescope delight titled "Open Sea", and is out on April 30 via Helsinki label Soliti Music. Musically, the song is glimmering and expansive. Thematically, it speaks to the desire to shrug off work and responsibilities, set sail and head out of the harbor. That all connects quite well with me at the moment.

In addition to Hopponen, Verandan is Kaarlo Stauffer, Aki Pohmankyro, Sampo Seppanen, and Aleksi Peltonen. In addition, Jari Suominen contributed electric piano on this song.

Soliti · Verandan : Open Sea

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