Kompleksi @ Zoot Mag

[Large version]

Zoot, a Portuguese fashion/music magazine in English has published in its issue #5 (Winter 2006) a featurette on Kompleksi, written by Ann Shenton a.k.a. Large Number (formerly also a member of Add N To (X)):

"There is a spooky Ramones-esque quality to the track '(I Ain't No) Lovechild', the lyrics tell a story of an unloved one, beaten & neglected by his mother and life in general. Delivered in deadpan fashion, it's wickedly entertaining and deliciously cruel."

"Their cover artwork is of the cut and paste punk ethic: torn pages of fashion magazines, sci-fi imagery and Japanese graffiti adds to their unique brand of 'kooky-ness'."

[Note: the song 'Sarah Payne' mentioned in the article was later on re-named 'Sara Pain' after we learned about a horrible UK murder case featuring a young victim of this name -- the song (and its video) had nothing whatsoever to do with this case, of which we have been totally unaware here in Finland, though it was big news in England. Another spooky coincidence, believe it or not...]

Plat Ypus @ Mutant Sounds

I wrote here some time ago about the art of Ilkka Vekka, also a member of the interesting exp/electronic-tinged rock group Plat Ypus. Now Mutant Sounds, one of the most fascinating music blogs around (dedicated to some extremely rare and obscure exp/electronic/psychedelic/punk/Krautrock/etc. record releases from 1960s onwards, also featuring downloads of these records), has featured there an entry of Lörsson/Plat Ypus 3" split CDR (a limited edition of 30!) released in 2003 on Helsinki's 267 Lattajjaa label (a brainchild of one dedicated fringe music fanatic called Hannu Haahti -- we were featured with Kompleksi on the label's Sigue Sigue Sputnik tribute compilation last year). This is what Mutant Sounds writes about Plat Ypus: "Vascilllating between rhythm box-driven vignettes of ass-backward mulched electronica, mid-period Boredoms spasming art splatter and post-rock repetition". Too bad Plat Ypus seems to gone on hiatus these days (even though one member of the band, Perttu Makkonen, just sent me an interesting CDR of his latest project, about which more here).

Aarne Rautio In Memoriam

Aarne Iisakki Rautio (25 July 1916 - 25 June 2007)

My grandfather Aarne Rautio has passed away at the age of 90 in Lapua, Finland. He is survived by one son and three grandchildren. A WWII veteran, who made his life's work as a mailman (as his own father had before him), I remember "Paappa" as an exceptionally kind, modest and calm man, who never lost his temper; almost seeming to have a patience of a saint and always willing to give his help. His memory will live on.

Aarne Rautio, ca. 1946, with his younger son Matti (1946 - 1999)

See also:

Pertti Rautio In Memoriam

Kompleksi: Sister Longlegs Dances In The Disco

Click for larger images.

If anything goes as it should, soon we hope to have Kompleksi's debut album Sister Longlegs Dances In The Disco as a Net release. The album has been finished since May 2006, but so far no record label in their infinite wisdom has shown interest for our jagged "eclectro" sounds (tragicomic DIY electropunknewwavesynthpoppsychedelicdiscowhatever), so this will be self-released under pHinnWeb's own "imprint", pHinnMilk Recordings. Which I already planned killing off, since usually distributors of electronic (dance) music haven't shown interest in taking on any CD-R releases (unlike in improv/psych-folk scene where CD-Rs just seem to flourish). So, I don't believe that I will have energy to publish any more CD-Rs under pHinnMilk, and any other possible releases there will be Net only.

[Of course, if there's still anyone out there willing to put out Sister Longlegs... out on their own label, we are always open to all suggestions, but sometimes self-help is the best help!]

Anyway, happy Juhannus to everyone!

Sister Longlegs... review @ Electrosynth blog

Kemialliset Ystävät: 'Älyvaahtoa' video

Kemialliset Ystävät: 'Älyvaahtoa' ("Intelligent foam")

Directed by Jonna Karanka.

[Previous]

Dum Nolla3Nolla EP (DUM-030)

A new 12" soon out on Dum Records!

DUM-030
Mono Junk/New York City Survivors/Detroit Diesel/Kim Rapatti
Dum Nolla3Nolla EP (12")
22 June 2007
A1. Mono Junk: Ai Jaa
A2. New York City Survivors: Superstar
B1. Detroit Diesel: Fu-Dimension
B2. Kim Rapatti: Fantasy

(Listen to some tracks at http://www.myspace.com/monojunk.)

Press release notes:

"Finnish madmen are back with the cult Dum Records label. - All techno is so shit these days that we have to show again what it's all about. Experimenting with the sounds and creating something new and interesting, say boys from up north.

Mono Junk's AI JAA is outstanding track full of dark energy which makes junkheads dance their brains out. Or should. If not, ask the doctor prescribe some more pills. For the real rave hell 2007! A2. track SUPERSTAR, definitely a hardcore industrial techno masterdisaster by New York City Survivors. Their craziest track ever!

On the B-side Dum decided to offer their classic acid gem FU-DIMENSION for the hungry kids. Previously released in 1993 and has been sought after since because the small amount pressed in the golden years. The last track continues Kim Rapatti's 'sing a song career'. One of the Legowelt's all time top ten track, Time After Time, last year released, get great follow-up with fantasy.

Limited edition 200 copies on freak colour vinyl!"

Release date 22.06.07!

Distribution:

Rubadub / Blackhole
Unit 4, 28 Queen Elizabeth Ave, Hillington
Glasgow G52 4NQ
UK

Phone: +44-(0)141-882-9900>

E-mail: martin@rubadub.co.uk

Sonic Temple Assassins @ pHinnWeb

I just created a pHinnWeb discography/info page for Sonic Temple Assassins, who's also a Kompleksi collaborator with 'Slick Little Girl'.

The page can be found at:

http://www.phinnweb.org/finndiscog/STA/

Suomiteknohistofriikki by Mono Junk

Mono Junk a.k.a. Kimmo "Kim" Rapatti (or was it Kim "Kimmo" Rapatti?) of Dum Records has written for the latest Basso magazine (3/2007) -- in his inimitable style -- a subjective account on the formative years 1990-99 of Finnish techno music scene.

For those into decoding the cryptic, wordplay-laden style of Mika Waltari-worshipping Mr. Rapatti, a chockful of innuendo and gossip is offered on the adventures, mishaps and exploits of your favourite Finnish electronic musicians of these "golden years". Alongside his own "Totuus Top 10" ("The Truth Top 10") Kim/mo also asked from yours truly a Top 5 list of favourites which you can see above.

(Obviously similar lists were requested by Mono Junk from other Finnish electronic luminaries, too, but typically, no one else bothered to send them than your humble narrator -- can we detect a pattern here...?)

***

Addition 26 June 2006:

And now Mono Junk sent me his own comments to this:

"Actually it's not my own Top Ten, like I have explained before the chart... I got about 15 Top 5 charts and only a few did't answer. So it's 'truth' ;) Top Ten (except Mighty Rubber Boots record is joke, magazine changed zero to ten by mistake. Pure gabba shit :) If it would be mine own top ten there would be only my own tracks, heh ;) Just only the separate Top 5 is pHinn's. By the way in the story there are hidden 5 Mika Vainio/Pan sonic track titles, easy to find or not, otherwise also tricky story if don't understand anything about 90's techno history or don't know any persons... Horo Julkunen, who the hell is he..."

V/A: Electronic Helsinki Vol. 1 (Cymbidium Records)

Various Artists
Electronic Helsinki Vol. 1 (CD)
Cymbidium Records / Octagram Records
9 May 2007

1. Lunar Mascot: Story
2. The Millioners: Body Into Use
3. Musa Basha: Sherpa Boy
4. DJ Pataässä feat. The Sensitive Man: Just vain sulle
5. Uusi Fantasia: Kenkä Joe
6. Ercola: Sumthang
7. PJVM: */*****
8. Imatran Voima: Nuttin' But Leechin'
9. Mr. Velcro Fastener: Masters of the Unipherse
10. DJ Vilhelm: Monorama
11. Boyz of Caligula: Nazi Tiger
12. ALInEN: Testio
13. The Five Corners Quintet: Before We Say Goodbye (Jori Hulkkonen remix)
14. Polytron: Red Whine

Press release text:

"Brand new compilation Electronic Helsinki features 14 tracks of alternative dance music from Finland. The music is brought to you by the finest finnish producers of today. Artists appearing on the compilation are: Imatran Voima, Uusi Fantasia, Polytron, Ercola, PJVM, The Millioners, Mr Velcro Fastener and many more to list.

CD is a joint venture of two Finnish independent labels, Cymbidium and Octagram, who combine their forces for this high quality release. The unique cover artwork is brought to you by IVANAhelsinki. Besides the normal digipack, a limited edition of the compilation is available in a special canvas cover, designed by Paola Suhonen. Get it while you can, it surely is hot!

Record is sold in Finland by Design Forum Finland, Myymälä2, Lifesaver, Stupido Shop, Lux.

The canvas cover is available only in IVANAhelsinki Campus store, Uudenmaankatu 15. Record is distributed by Töölön musiikkitukku: sales@toolonmusiikitukku.com."

More info:

Sound samples @ Octagram

Cymbidium Records @ MySpace

Cymbidium Records @ Discogs.com

I Can Skweee Clearly Now: Video Clips

I Can Skweee Clearly Now: videoclip 1

More videoclips from the same party:

2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8

More Skweee search results @ YouTube

Finnish artists & labels @ MySpace

The links list of Finnish electronic artists and labels @ MySpace lives now under pHinnWeb site, also featuring some DJs, clubs, festivals and other related MySpace sites. Plus some experimental/improvisational/indie acts too... If you know something else from Finland that should be on this list but isn't, send your addition/s to phinnweb[at]yahoo.com .

http://www.phinnweb.org/finndiscog/myspace/

Kompleksi's 'Sara Pain' Video on Sydney Shorts, Australia

Sydney Shorts intro

For Aussie readers...

The 'Sydney Shorts' show hosted by Tony Lawrence on community television station TVS (formerly called Channel 31) based in Sydney, Australia will show Kompleksi's 'Sara Pain' video and the short film 'Xenophobic Site', both directed by Tina Ulevik of Spul Films Australia.

Dates:

9:30PM Monday 4/06/07
1:30AM Wednesday 6/06/07
4:30AM Saturday 9/06/07

There will also be re-runs later on.

pHinnWeb Chart June 2007...

... is here.