Delay Trees at Tavastia – Photo by David de Young
If you’re looking for great Finnish indie bands who sing in English (and admittedly, I am), you need look no further than Soliti label’s impressive – eight artists and counting – roster. On Wednesday night I got a chance to see four Soliti bands live at the their roadshow at Tavastia in Helsinki, and it left me looking forward to hearing more.
The line-up was refreshingly diverse for a single label showcase and kicked off with a dreamy set from Delay Trees who played to a quiet and attentive crowd. Delay Trees is pleasantly earnest, their music immensely listenable. A plenitude of shimmering songs reminded me at times of what Cocteau Twins might have sounded like with male vocals. This sort of music has been done a lot and could easily be pretentious, but in Delay Trees’ hands it never is. Though sometimes I found myself wishing the boys would “bring it” a bit more, this is probably my American cultural bias reacting to the band’s Finnish reserve, and in retrospect they “brought it” just about perfectly.
Delay Trees video for “HML”
Next up was multi-instrumentalist Astrid Swan, performing as duo with just her on piano and a drummer. Swan’s songs feature interesting chord progressions and dynamic range, her vocals sometimes reminiscent of Kate Bush. Her latest album on Soliti is 2012’s collection of all Pavement covers (yes, you heard me right, 9 songs written by Stephen Malkmus) called (appropriately?) Hits (Pavement for Girls). Swan’s no stranger to covers, incidentally, as she performed an acoustic version of The Killers “When You Were Young” on KCMP 89.3 “The Current” in my home state of Minnesota in April, 2007, a song that appears on Live Current Volume 3. While I didn’t have nearly the musical connection with Swan as with the other band’s on Wednesday’s bill, I was nonetheless impressed by her musicianship and rapport with her drummer. Together, the two of them brought the dynamic range of a full band to the songs, and as a duo, whether piano and drums, or guitar and drums, this is a skill not to be underestimated.
Astrid Swan video for “Here” from Hits (Pavement for Girls)
Perhaps as a harbinger of good things to come, the featured DJs of the night (members of Soliti band Black Twig), played Hüsker Dü’s “Makes No Sense at All” between sets, reminding me of my Minneapolis heritage. (Black Twig aren’t participating live in the Soliti Roadshow, but they have their own show at Tavastia on January 26th.)
Cats on Fire at Tavastia – Photo by David de Young
The act that originally drew me to the show and Soliti music was Cats on Fire. I wish I could remember how I came upon them, whether it was Radio Helsinki or a Google search, but what’s most important is that we found each other. Cats on Fire’s albums are world-class English-speaking indie pop, reminiscent of Belle and Sebastian, the Decemberists, Camera Obscura, The Smiths, and many more bands in whose direction my tastes were already bent. Strong in the studio, it’s on stage this band really made their impression on me. Charismatic and articulate lead singer Mattias Björkas keeps your attention, his acoustic guitar worn high like a strolling troubadour, stiff but charming formality and a quick bows to the audience after each song. Stage banter between songs was in both Swedish and Finnish, some songs ending with a tack as well as a kiitos. Live, Cats on Fire cast a shimmery aural brilliance across the room, the kind that really makes you feel good inside (and that’s the main thing I look for in music at times.) Their new album, 2012’s All Blackshirts To Me is top notch and worth your time if you like any of the bands I mentioned above. The songs are well-crafted, memorable and distinct.
Cats on Fire video for “After the Fact” from All Blackshirts to Me (2012)
The roadshow’s final band, Big Wave Riders started a little late so I had to miss the end of their set but I was impressed by what I did hear. Before seeing them live, I’d heard only one track from them (the New Order flavored “Sunny Season” – see video) and that didn’t prepare me for what I saw. Big Wave Riders slammed into me like a swaggering locomotive from their very first song. Definitely not fucking around, they took no prisoners with their funky, frequently soaring 3 guitar attack. On 2012’s Life Less Ordinary which I’m only beginning to listen to as I complete this review, the same confident rock and roll attitude prevails. Yet another band to watch and one I look forward to seeing again.
Big Wave Riders video for “Sunny Season” from Life Less Ordinary (2012)
The Soliti Roadshow continues with shows in Tampere January 18th and Turku January 19th.
18.01.2013 Yo-Talo, Tampere : The New Tigers, Big Wave Riders, Paperfangs
19.01.2013 Dynamo, Turku : Cats On Fire, The New Tigers (Nick Triani Dj.)
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