Yesterday Rumba and YleX, two domestic music medias, released a dozen of Finnish artists merited with being the most talked about things to come in the future (see Rumba 15/09:33 or YleX homepage). The list was compiled by music professionals who each were asked to vote for five artists in no particular order. The criteria was that they be Finnish, as well as that they have yet to release their debut album.

This list of 12 artists included several that I fully agree with and who have a definite place on that list. On the other hand, I could think of a couple other artists that I feel fill that criteria, yet who were absent from this future dozen, like the Tampere – based group On Volcano. Time after time they seem to impress with their shoegaze-indierock, live as well as on their self-released EP. The last I’ve heard them was warming up the stage for the Icelandic Hjaltalínin on their mini tour of Finland.

KA SO RE are also missing their debut album, aren’t they? Just last year they released their debut EP entitled Petite. Also known as “Kimarr”, Juuso Malin has been on my “ones to watch” – list for years now, and I have yet to be let down. On the five track EP, there are at least three danceathons, which makes me real anxious for any upcoming release from KA SO RE. Could it be that the experts simply passed the individual artists by, since the list did exclusively rely on groups?

Jaakko & Jay

The list did include on or two artists who, placed on that list slightly annoyed me. Even though Jaakko & Jay are one of my favorite things to happen this whole year, it was quite an oddity that the crew landed in the top three, or on the list for that matter. Their debut album release has been postponed so many times, that being released at the end of this month “War is Noise” should have discredited them being listed at all.

Le Corpse Mince de Francoise at Suvilahti Helsinki, 26.8.09

Some obvious artists who met criteria include the girl trio Le Corps Mince de Françoise, who have been seen in every major magazine as well as every major festival this year. They’ve even conquered Europe and have every one kneeling before them, even the notorious music blogs. Although the french electro label Kitsunés is to release the girls’ hit in December entitled “Something Golden” and it remains one of the best songs so far – and the lack of that debut album over all – I would like to point out an artist that could serve as a contrast in this matter. One that has already released a couple of albums, but has yet to get the much deserved attention.

Keramick & Lobo equals two young Helsinki – men. Their debut Digital White is one of the best Finnish albums, ever in my opinion, as well as a crown jewel of Finnish down tempo, that has the appeal to carry your interest from start to finish, even after you’d think the physical product would fall into pieces. The new album The Braille features a more diverse soundscape, which is beneficial for the single tracks, but the album over all then lacks some of the previous cohesion.

This new album features the song “Gone”, which is one of the duos best songs. Although, if you didn’t know before hand, you wouldn’t probably recognize it as their work. The Thom York – like vocals lift the song up and make for the skeleton of the track, and as great as the performance is, I find myself missing the downplayed vocals and the tormented drums of the album Digital White. Some samplers are found following this link.

The list also includes Villa Nah, Wedding Crashers and Zebra and Snake. These I would definitely want to see more of. At least the first two would have received my vote. What comes to Zebra and Snake, they have a lot of potential, but their sound is not yet as refined as most of those groups on the list.

Ylex: Tulevaisuuden Tusina 2010
On Volcano
KA SO RE
Jaakko n’ Jay
Le Corpse Mince de Francoise
Keramick & Lobo
Villa Nah
Wedding Crashers
Zebra and Snake