Illi Broman - The Early FinnScene: Synthpop




Illi Broman, born Markku Helge Ilmari Broman and hailing from Imatra, Finland, is a musician/composer and multi-instrumentalist. Broman was only under ten years old, when he started his musical career in the 1960s playing drums. Touring extensively with various dance bands, Broman, who was still underage, soon became a seasoned musician. Broman's life in rock music started in 1976, when he gained the third place in the Finnish Rock Championships with a band from Imatra called Wiemäribändi. The winner of the same competition was Jimi Sumén's band from Lappeenranta, which Broman joined, staying there for three years. Broman's style during these years was still hard rock and progressive rock.

Musical fashions were about to change, though, and soon Jimi Sumén and Illi Broman found themselves involved with Maukka Perusjätkä's punk/new wave band, having a brief chart success in Finland.

After the stint with Maukka Perusjätkä was over, Illi Broman started to record the debut album under his own name, having gained a generous offer from Epe Helenius of Poko Rekords. Thus in 1981 Illi Broman produced for Poko both the 7" single 'Golden Beat'/'Don't Miss The Stars' and a full-length album called I'm Right; 1983 saw one more Poko release in the same style, an 12" EP called 'Silver Dream'. On these releases representing synth-flavoured new wave pop/rock Illi Broman sang and played all the instruments, engineered and produced everything on his own. Sales-wise, Broman's Poko releases were not a success, but can these days be seen as an interesting addition to the all-too-brief Finnish futu canon of the early 1980s electronic new wave.

Furthermore, Illi Broman produced another synth act from his hometown Imatra: the outcome was Stressi's eponymous album, which came out in 1981. (Jam Rock Band was a short-lived rock act Illi Broman shared the production credit with the same year; resulting to a single called 'Loch Lomond Rock'/'I Go Ape'. A female disco act called Top Candy also used Broman's arranger services for their 7" single 'Blue Eyed Guy', out on CBS Finland in 1982.)

Since those days, Illi Broman worked for some years outside of Finland, continued in sound engineering, production, mixing and road-managing, played in various bands and with such renowned Finnish artists as Dave Lindholm, Hasse Walli, the late Albert Järvinen, and briefly with Leningrad Cowboys. He even tried his hand with radio commercials and theatre. Illi Broman has recently gained some online success with classical music and film scores, through his own Illi Broman Symphonyorchestra.


  • Illi Broman's official site
  • Illi Broman discography @ Discogs
  • Illi Broman @ Finnish Wikipedia
  • Illi Broman's 2009 interview in Finnish @ Uutisvuoksi
  • Illi Broman @ Singahdus blog (in Finnish)

  • Illi Broman Symphonyorchestra @ MySpace





    Discography:

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    Illi Broman
    Golden Beat / Don't Miss The Stars (7")
    PIS 079
    Poko Rekords
    1981
    A1: Golden Beat (3:55, intro 0:35)
    B1: Don't Miss The Stars

    Written, produced and arranged by Illi Broman.

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    Illi Broman
    I'm Right (LP)
    PÄLP 29
    Poko Rekords
    June 1981
    A1. I'm Right (4:47)
    A2. City Is Born (4:36)
    A3. Don't Miss The Stars (3:55)
    A4. Phone (3:03)
    A5. Ballad (4:34)
    B1. Sandy (3:44)
    B2. What Can I Do (2:39)
    B3. Play of Life (2:51)
    B4. The Last Game (5:52)
    B5. Golden Beat (3:57)

    Produced by Illi Broman. Recorded at Trackside Recording Studio, Imatra.

    Personnel: Illi Broman (vocals, synthesizer, guitar, electric drums), Juha Päiväläinen (tenor saxophone).

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    Illi Broman
    Silver dream (12")
    SILVER 1
    Poko Rekords
    1983
    A1. Silver Dream (3:07)
    A2. Last Train (3:56)
    B1. DJ's Talking (3:44)
    B2. Flying Scotchman (3:51)

    Produced by Illi Broman. Recorded at Sound Enterprises Studio.

    Personnel: Illi Broman (vocals, synthesizer, electric drums).

    Illi Broman on compilations:

    Various Artists
    Rock Disko (LP)
    LJLP1009
    Polarvox
    1981
    * A3. Illi Broman: Golden Beat

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    Various Artists
    Pokoflex (7" flexidisc)
    POKOFLEX1
    Poko Rekords
    March 1982
    * B2. Illi Broman: Play of Life (2:51)

    Various Artists
    Pure Finnish Rock - Aitoa Suomirockia (Poko Rekordsin historia 1977-2004) (5-CD box set)
    POKOBOX 1
    Poko Records
    2004
    * CD 5, track 5. Illi Broman: Golden Beat


    Also:

  • Yekaterinburg (2010, IBSO)

    For other releases, please refer to the links above.



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