FinnScene - The Early Years: Synthpop


Futu was the Finnish buzzword for the electronic new wave and synthpop of the late 1970s and early 1980s. Unfortunately, the futu movement in Finland was all too brief, best known for such bands and solo artists as Organ (and its earlier incarnation Argon), Stressi, Jimi Sumén and Illi Broman; also such as Twiggy Oliver/Mauno Paajanen, Belaboris, Tyhjät Patterit and Hot Sox gave their own contributions, not to talk about the early electro/hip hop forays from people like General Njassa.


Thanks to Jarkko Kuivanen, Hannu Haahti and Jari Nikkola for additional info and Mikko Niemelä for scans.

  • Finnish Futu-Pop & Goth-Rock Video Clips of the Early 80s (at YLE Elävä Arkisto)

    NOTE: by clicking some images, you can see larger versions of them.


    ARGON & ORGAN

    STRESSI

    HOT SOX

    JIMI SUMÉN

    APRÈS DEMAIN

    /early/synth/pic/apresd1.jpg /early/synth/pic/apresd2.jpg

    Après Demain
    Arpakuutio / Dans La Nuit (7")
    JHNS 542
    Johanna
    1983
    A1: Arpakuutio (2:58)
    säv: Turunen, Marlene, Kangas
    san: Turunen
    sov: Après Demain

    B1: Dans La Nuit (3:31)
    säv: Turunen, Marlene
    san: Turunen
    Ransk. san: Tuomo Orajärvi sov: Après Demain

    Johanna Kustannus OY 1983.


    ILLI BROMAN

     

    BELABORIS



    MUSTA PARAATI



    CINEMA

    Cinema

    Cinema
    Cinema (LP)
    Cityboy
    1984
    1. Kuuhullu
    2. Diplomaatti-X
    3. Lue Matti Lue
    4. Maaginen sydän
    5. Casablancan Yö
    6. Burma
    7. Kohti Burmaa
    8. Videohäät
    9. Huutoja sydämestä
    10. Tunnelmapölyä
    11. Toiseen maailmaan

    Personnel:

    Risto Horttanainen - vocals
    Juhani Syrjälä - synthesizer, guitar, piano

    Additional:

    Jorma Lehtola - electronic drums
    Katri Aaltio - backing vocals
    Paul Williams - bass on 1., 4., 6. and 7.
    Juuso Nordlund - fretless bass on 3., 5., 8. and 10.
    Upi Sorvali - yang-qin on 3., marimba on 5. and 9.
    Salla Mertsalo - violin on 6. and 10.
    Gus Isidore - guitar on 10.
    T.T. Oksala - drum machine on 10.

    NOTE: the album re-released on CD in 1994 by Suomen Markkinamittaus.

    TOM DOZEN (a.k.a. Tommi Läntinen)

    /pic/a_blue.jpg /pic/a_blue2.jpg

    Aqua Blue
    Johanna, JHN 2084 (LP, 1982)

    A1: Aqua Blue
    A3: Teenagers Gospel
    A4: One Track Mind
    A5: Bela Lugosi
    B1: Black & Blue
    B2: Alaska
    B3: Psycho
    B4: Dozen Dreams

  • Tom Dozen info @ FinnArctic

  • Tom Dozen @ Discogs

    GEISHA

    /pic/geisha1.jpg

    JOHANNA (Helsinki, Finland)

    Geisha
    Kesä (12", 45 rpm)
    JHEX 539
    1983
    A1. Kesä (3:08)
    A2. Aavelaiva (2:26)
    B1. Pojat (2:25)
    B2. Kesä (Dub) (3:11)

    © Johanna Kustannus Oy
    (p) A.A.B. Tuotanto Oy 1983

    Credits:
    A1. Säv. ja sov. Geisha, san. Marianne Loppi
    A2. Säv. ja sov. Geisha, san. Marianne Loppi
    B1. Säv. ja sov. Geisha, san. Marianne Loppi
    B2. Geisha.

  • Geisha @ Discogs

     

    GENERAL NJASSA

    THE ART OF BREEDING (various artists)
    Johanna JHN-3013 (LP, 1983)

    A1. GENERAL NJASSA AND HIS LOST DIVISION: I'm Young, Beautiful And Natural
    B4. GENERAL NJASSA AND HIS LOST DIVISION: I'm Young, Beautiful And Natural (Rhythm Track)

    Credits:
    A1. Composed by J. Havanna, J. Sumén, lyrics by G. Njassa, Richie, arr. by J. Havanna, J. Sumén, K. Kalén
    B4. Composed by J. Havanna, J. Sumén, lyrics by G. Njassa, Richie, arr. by J. Havanna, J. Sumén, K. Kalén

    (P) Johanna Kustannus Oy
    (P) A.A.B. Tuotanto Oy 1983

    General Njassa General Njassa

    General Njassa
    I'm Young Beautiful And Natural (7")
    817251-7
    Barclay (France)
    1983
    A. I'm Young, Beautiful And Natural
    B. I'm Young, Beautiful And Natural (Rhythm Track)

    General Njassa records 1984-86:

    I'm Young, Beautiful And Natural (12")
    Hotel Hollywood (12")
    Special (12")

    General Njassa: Special

    General Njassa
    Special (LP)
    826593-1
    Connect/Polygram
    1986
    A1. Special (3:49)
    (G. Njassa / J. Havanna)
    A2. I'm Young Beautiful And... (Electronic U.S. Mix) (7:14)
    (G. Njassa / Richie / J. Havanna - J. Sumen)
    A3. Special (Extended Dance Mix) (5:14)
    (G. Njassa / J. Havanna)
    B1. Space Cowboy (4:21)
    (G. Njassa / J. Havanna)
    B2. Bring It On (4:20)
    (G. Njassa / J. Havanna)
    B3. Beatbox (3:25)
    (G. Njassa / J. Havanna)
    B4. I'm Young Beautiful And Natural (Rhythm Track) (4:14)
    (G. Njassa / Richie / J. Havanna - J. Sumen)

    Produced by T. Cassidy
    Engineered by Jimi Sumen
    Arranged by Jay Havanna,
    Jimi Sumen and T. Cassidy
    Recorded and mixed at Matrix Studios, London and Power Station N.Y.C.
    Photo: Tom S. Cooper
    Design: Jerry Young.

    Special thanks to:
    James Cross
    Ming Sumen
    Nini
    Tulip
    Gary Kaleen
    G.M. Delay
    Roy Watson
    All my fans:
    I dedicate the song "Beatbox"
    to you for your Kindness and loyalty
    G.N.

    (p)& © CONNECT Records

  • General Njassa @ Discogs


    MAUNO PAAJANEN / TWIGGY OLIVER

    Twiggy Oliver
    Play With Fire (7")
    Q
    1981
    A. Play With Fire
    B. Voodoo Man

    Twiggy Oliver
    Pick Up Girls (7")
    Q
    1982
    A. Pick Up Girls
    B. One Foot In The Grave

    Twiggy Oliver (real name: Mauno Paajanen) appears also on the compilation The Art of Breeding (1983, see below).

  • Mauno Paajanen @ Discogs


    TYHJÄT PATTERIT

    Tyhjät Patterit
    Makuuhuoneen salaisuus/Tässä ja nyt (7")
    YÄK 05
    Hilse levyt
    1980
    A. Makuuhuoneen salaisuus
    B. Tässä ja nyt

    Note: 45 rpm.

    Tyhjät Patterit
    Ilmaa/Jää-9 (7")
    PIS 090
    Poko Rekords
    1981
    A. Ilmaa
    B. Jää-9

    Note: 45 rpm.

    Tyhjät Patterit
    Osat hukassa/Ruuhkassa (7")
    PIS 067
    Poko Rekords
    1981
    A. Osat hukassa
    B. Ruuhkassa

    Note: 45 rpm.

    Tyhjät Patterit
    Luolamaalauksia EP (12")
    PATTERI 1
    Poko Rekords
    October 1982
    A1. Liian myöhään (3:40)
    A2. Rikoksia (3:24)
    A3. Laske sataan (4:40)
    B2. Jalanjälkiä (3:50)

    Produced by Tyhjät Patterit.
    Recorded at MSL-Studio, July 1982.

    Personnel: Esa Ijäs (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Ari Ijäs (bass, Canon AT-1), Martti Jalonen (keyboards). Additional: Jukka Mikkola (saxophone).

    Tyhjät Patterit also appears on the compilations:

    Suomi-ilmiö (track: 'Osat hukassa', Polarvox LJLP 1006/Polarvox LJMK 1006, LP/cassette, Polarvox, 1980)

    Suomi Rock 1981 (track: 'Osat hukassa', POKOCDROCK 81, CD, Poko Rekords, ?)

  • Tyhjät Patterit @ FinnArctic blog

  • Tyhjät Patterit @ finnmusic.net

  • Tyhjät Patterit 1981 video clips @ YLE Elävä Arkisto


    ADVANCED ART




    TOMMI LINDELL:

    Mad Lindell: Grandmaster Klaus A Mad Lindell: Grandmaster Klaus B

    Mad Lindell
    Grandmaster Klaus (7")
    KRÄKS 138
    Kräk
    1988
    A. Grandmaster Klaus (3:32)
    B. Karjala (3:04)

    Written by Tommi Lindell.

  • The official Tommi Lindell site

  • Tommi Lindell @ FinnArctic

  • Mad Lindell: 'Grandmaster Klaus' (1988) @ YouTube

  • Lindellandia @ YouTube

  • Tommi Lindell @ Discogs

  • Tommi Lindell interview @ Selvis 1/2001 (in Finnish)

  • Tommi Lindell @ Riffi 2/2002 (in Finnish)


    COMPILATIONS / VARIOUS ARTISTS

    JOHANNA (Helsinki, Finland)

    Art of Breeding

    Various Artists
    The Art of Breeding (LP)
    JHN 3013
    1983
    A1. General Njassa and His Lost Division: I'm Young, Beautiful and Natural (4:40)
    A2. Hefty Load: Rabbit (5:36)
    A3. Hefty Load: Centre of the Universe (3:36)
    A4. Hefty Load: Du Bist Wunderbar (5:04)
    B1. Jimi Sumén: Nowhere To Run (5:10)
    B2. Twiggy Oliver: Cook The Messiah (5:22)
    B3. Twiggy Oliver: Become A Millionaire (5:05)
    A1. General Njassa and His Lost Division: I'm Young, Beautiful and Natural (Rhythm Track) (4:00)

    Produced by Jimi Sumén & Kari Kalén
    Engineers: J. Sumén, M. Groundstroem, M. Vikstedt
    Mixed by J. Sumén, Finnvox-Studios
    Cover painting: Val
    Cover design: Kari Kalén

    Jimi Sumén appears by kind permission of Rockadillo Records

    Credits:
    A1. Composed by J. Havanna, J. Sumén, lyrics by G. Njassa, Richie, arr. by J. Havanna, J. Sumén, K. Kalén
    A2. Jyri Honkavaara, arr. by Hefty Load
    A3. Composed by Matts Kullman, lyrics by Måns Kullman, arr. by Hefty Load
    A4. Måns Kullman & Jyri Honkavaara, arr. by Hefty Load
    B1. Holland-Dozier, arr. by J. Sumén, J. Havanna, K. Kalén
    B2. Twiggy Oliver
    B3. Twiggy Oliver
    B4. Composed by J. Havanna, J. Sumén, lyrics by G. Njassa, Richie, arr. by J. Havanna, J. Sumén, K. Kalén

    (P) Johanna Kustannus Oy
    except B1. © Stone Agate Music Division (BMI)
    (P) A.A.B. Tuotanto Oy 1983





    [FinnScene The Early Years - Discography] [Index]