Today's Swell Tune: Latter Days

• Band: French Films
• Album: White Orchid (Release date: 5.4.2013)
• From: Espoo/Järvenpää, Finland
• Sound: I described them years ago as "Joy Division as cast by John Hughes". I stand by that; post-punk.
• Social: facebook, soundcloud, twitter, vimeo, YouTube

Today's Swell Tune: Dust It Off

The Do - Dust It Off by im'aprovidergirl

• Band: The Dø
• Album: Dust It Off (EP); Both Ways Open Jaws (out March 7)
• From: Helsinki, Finland; Paris, France
• Sound: Goosebumpy; indie pop
• Website: http://thedo.info/
• Social: facebook; myspace
• Download Free: here

Today's Swell Tune: Mexico

• Artist: Satellite Stories
• Album: Promo EP
• From: Oulu, Finland
• Sound: Them: "Our mission is to bring you nostalgia from events that you never really experienced, like the 60s, first kiss from your elementary school crush and the time you and your best friend bought that awesome 45-single and listened it from your parents record player". Me: "Adorable. Can't really touch that"; indie pop-rock
• Website: http://www.myspace.com/satellitestories

First my Mobile Phone, Now my iPod: The Finns Won't Rest Until They Control All the Electronics

Last Sunday, my "Swell Tune" of the day was French Films' Golden Sea.  It's boss, and to my knowledge the first anything from Finland I have ever featured.


Then yesterday, I was contacted by Big Wave Riders, another Finnish band.  I wasn't sure if it was coincidence or run of the mill networking, but I couldn't ignore it--I was suddenly very interested in "that land the phones come from."


Well there must be something in the water in Finland. Something post-punk and awesome. Because, like their fellow countrymen, Big Wave Riders have a dark infectious sound that will test the stamina of your back button.  If I pegged French Films as "Joy Division-via-John Hughes", then Big Wave Riders might be "Duran Duran-via-David Fincher".  But even with different genes, it's clear they're still from the same neighbourhood. It's post-punk/new wave aesthetic, but with much less distortion than similar projects out of the west.


So what I need to know is if this is typical for Finland right now--anyone on the inside who can explain the scene, please contact me. St Petersburg-Helsinki is a short train ride and I think I've found somewhere to go for spring holidays.


(You can download both these tracks for free from their Soundcloud page.)

Big Wave Riders - Republic of the average by Big Wave Riders

Big Wave Riders - Big Sound by Big Wave Riders

Today's Swell Tune: Golden Sea

• Band: French Films
• Album: Golden Sea (EP)
• From: Helsinki, Finland
• Sound: Joy Division as cast by John Hughes; post-punk
• Website :http://www.myspace.com/frenchfilmsofficial