LIVE REVIEW: THE SOCIAL 18/01/10
The weekly Fitzrovian Phonographic night at The Social guarantees cheap drinks, great food and great music. The night is run by Danny, Adam and Carl who run their own labels as well as working for Heavenly Records and they all have amazing music taste. I knew a band called Joensuu 1685 were playing but besides their name, I knew nothing about them or their sound. From overhearing them speak, I guessed they were from Scandinavia but I was quietly excited to hear what they would sound like. I've had a fascination for Scandinavian music since a young age. My parents always played Abba and one of the first alternative bands I ever got into was Raveonettes Sune's first band Psyched Up Janis. Since then I have always followed the Scandinavian music scene.
The tiny stage was mostly filled by a Farfisa in between which 3 band members stood - the singer hunched over the Farfisa, while the bassist and drummer both looked like they were in some kind of trance. Heavy drums, goading basslines and church organ music slowly and incessantly filled the room. The 3 Somnambulists began to cast their spells over us. When singer Mikko Joensuu lifts his head towards the mic, a fragile, ethereal voice floats somewhere in between the restrained but enticing musical pulses emanating from the band. His voice is incredibly haunting and instantly makes me feel that this is possibly the type of music the legendary Jeff Buckley could be creating if he was still alive. All the fragility, fear, love and confusion of Mikko's voice make you feel like you've had a kind of spiritual stroke and when you walk away, you will never look at modern music or bands in the same light again for what this band is doing is untouchable and truly unique. They are 3 genuine, extremely talented yet humble musicians whose inspirations seem to range from the likes of The Velvet Underground and Suicide to folk tales and gospel music. Songs like Crystal Light are more fast paced and experimental but coupled with slower songs like Perfect Grace, the truly haunting Electric Ocean Sailor and the incredible cover of Springsteen's I'm On Fire, there is a strong sense of spiritual rock coming through and it is so genuine, raw and pure that it makes watching and hearing the band a truly physical as well as mental experience.
Bassist Risto plays with intense purpose and restrain. Sometimes playing the same few notes for about 10 minutes. You can tell he is a fantastically gifted bassist however his intentional restrain makes more impact than if he was ripping out a million bass lines. It drives the band as much as it controls them. It grounds the band from being too experimental and maintains the slightly unnerving pace of their set which leaves you in complete awe.
Drummer Markus Joensuu (brother of singer Mikko) has something of the Dave Grohl school of drumming about him. Head down, pounding hard and almost looking like a rag doll at some points, his heavy beats seal the deal on making this 3 piece one of the most exciting new bands I have ever had the pleasure of coming across. They are currently the music industry's best kept secret and as much as I would love them to remain my guilty pleasure, I feel the world deserves to hear and see them. Nothing new and exciting has come out in music world in the last few years except fellow Nordic act, Fever Ray. Watching Joensuu 1685 and listening to their eponymous album, has given me a faith in modern music that I was hoping would come along.
Joensuu 1685's debut album is released Feb 2010 in the UK and the band will be touring the UK in May. Check them out here: http://www.myspace.com/joensuu1685
The weekly Fitzrovian Phonographic night at The Social guarantees cheap drinks, great food and great music. The night is run by Danny, Adam and Carl who run their own labels as well as working for Heavenly Records and they all have amazing music taste. I knew a band called Joensuu 1685 were playing but besides their name, I knew nothing about them or their sound. From overhearing them speak, I guessed they were from Scandinavia but I was quietly excited to hear what they would sound like. I've had a fascination for Scandinavian music since a young age. My parents always played Abba and one of the first alternative bands I ever got into was Raveonettes Sune's first band Psyched Up Janis. Since then I have always followed the Scandinavian music scene.
The tiny stage was mostly filled by a Farfisa in between which 3 band members stood - the singer hunched over the Farfisa, while the bassist and drummer both looked like they were in some kind of trance. Heavy drums, goading basslines and church organ music slowly and incessantly filled the room. The 3 Somnambulists began to cast their spells over us. When singer Mikko Joensuu lifts his head towards the mic, a fragile, ethereal voice floats somewhere in between the restrained but enticing musical pulses emanating from the band. His voice is incredibly haunting and instantly makes me feel that this is possibly the type of music the legendary Jeff Buckley could be creating if he was still alive. All the fragility, fear, love and confusion of Mikko's voice make you feel like you've had a kind of spiritual stroke and when you walk away, you will never look at modern music or bands in the same light again for what this band is doing is untouchable and truly unique. They are 3 genuine, extremely talented yet humble musicians whose inspirations seem to range from the likes of The Velvet Underground and Suicide to folk tales and gospel music. Songs like Crystal Light are more fast paced and experimental but coupled with slower songs like Perfect Grace, the truly haunting Electric Ocean Sailor and the incredible cover of Springsteen's I'm On Fire, there is a strong sense of spiritual rock coming through and it is so genuine, raw and pure that it makes watching and hearing the band a truly physical as well as mental experience.
Bassist Risto plays with intense purpose and restrain. Sometimes playing the same few notes for about 10 minutes. You can tell he is a fantastically gifted bassist however his intentional restrain makes more impact than if he was ripping out a million bass lines. It drives the band as much as it controls them. It grounds the band from being too experimental and maintains the slightly unnerving pace of their set which leaves you in complete awe.
Drummer Markus Joensuu (brother of singer Mikko) has something of the Dave Grohl school of drumming about him. Head down, pounding hard and almost looking like a rag doll at some points, his heavy beats seal the deal on making this 3 piece one of the most exciting new bands I have ever had the pleasure of coming across. They are currently the music industry's best kept secret and as much as I would love them to remain my guilty pleasure, I feel the world deserves to hear and see them. Nothing new and exciting has come out in music world in the last few years except fellow Nordic act, Fever Ray. Watching Joensuu 1685 and listening to their eponymous album, has given me a faith in modern music that I was hoping would come along.
Joensuu 1685's debut album is released Feb 2010 in the UK and the band will be touring the UK in May. Check them out here: http://www.myspace.com/joensuu1685
