While we continue work on the LP, we thought it would be nice to offer a few
mixes, so this might be the first of a few if we get the time. If only I could think of a clever play on words that would tie in this mix with the fact that we’re close to finishing the LP…
Inspired by yearly trips to Northern Finland with his girlfriend, Tom has been collecting Finnish records for a few years now and has amassed a healthy collection of Suomalainen psych rock, prog, acid folk and jazz.
Finland Chart
Compiled by Tom Watt
1 Mr Madman- Hullu Madman (45, Madman)
This little known, hard hitting psych rock/pop 45 is one of my favourite tracks of all time! It features Frank Robson (from Tasavallan Presindentti) singing in a rather strange mix of Finnish and English. I believe it also features the legend Seppo “Paroni” (“the baron”) Paakkunainen, but information about this is quite hard to come by in English.
2 Maru and Mikael- Portrait of Sorrow (Destination Nowhere)
This is a folky track from an amazing 1975 album on the label Hi-Hat which was home to some great prog, psych, folk and jazz including Kalevala and Uni Sono. Marianne “Maru” Nyman had been playing blues and folk with Carita Holmström since a very young age. Mikael Wiik met them at a small blues jam place called the Foggy Mountain Club in the late 60s. Mikael went on to be a producer for Carita Holmström, and eventually had a relationship with Maru with whom he wrote an album which was released on the then-new label Hi-Hat.
3 Jukka Hauru- Mai-Ling (Information) ‘72
A highly under-rated guitarist; Jukka Hauru recorded a couple of solo records in the 70s; this is from his first and it’s a master piece of prog-fusion-weirdness. It has some rather bizarre song titles including “Jam Session the Finnish Yes Federation’s Skinheaded Board”!
4 Tasavallan Presidentti- Struggling For Freedom (S/T 2)
One of the most acclaimed bands ever to hail from Finland; this is Tasavallan Presidentti at their best. They were pretty much a “super-group” of Finnish musicians at the time and enjoyed some success in the rest of Europe but never really “made it” out side of Finland which is a shame as they truly deserved to.
5 Otto Donner- Two Guitars? (Perspectives’68)
Another record I know very little about; this was released to celebrate the 100-Year anniversary of the University of Helsinki’s Student Union and to help support avant-garde music in Finland (that’s what it says on the back!). Otto Donner is from a famous Finnish family and was one of the people behind setting up the legendary “Love Records” (they have a great logo). There are 4 tracks on this; 2 of them electronic avant-garde music, this song and a Blues Section song.
6 Woodoo – Woodoo Teema (Woodoo)
An interesting release on Edward Vesela’s UFO label that also released 2 Oiling Boiling Albums. Again, I know very little about it but it has one of the best sleeve designs I’ve ever seen.
7 Green Fields Kuoro ja Yhtye – Tuuli Tuulee (Minäpä se Laulelen)
This is from a children’s record (Greenfields Quire and Band), a strangely haunting track with flute and chanting vocals. Tuuli Tuulee means “wind blows”.
8 Eero Koivistoinen- Alkusoitto (Valtakunta)
This is a concept album from 1968, masterminded by jazz master Koivistoinen and with lyrics from various poets. It’s an eclectic blend of music with a fair amount of influence from Sergeant Peppers, this track is the intro.
9 Paroni Paakkunainen- Ufology (Finnish Big Band Jazz)
This is a stand out track from a selection of, err, big-band-jazz tracks, each one featuring different composers including Heikki Sarmanto.
This is just right out there!
10 Kristian- Hit Him Hard (Kristian)
The only solo LP by Bengt Huhta (aka Kristian), I picked this up a while ago and didn’t get into it at first but a few of the tracks on it (including this one) have slowly grown on me. A melodic blend of folk, rock and pop drenched in organ and a little flute in places, yet another truly under rated artist.
And finally, Jack has also done a mix for Finger magazine, which can be found here:
cheers
WPx
Wolf People
