This sixth edition of our weekly SpaceScan serves up treats for anyone in to classically inspired alt-folk (courtesy of Icelandic quintet Rökkurró) and wall-of-sound psychedelic rock (here delivered by Finnish trio Joensuu 1685). Are you just curious at heart you are of course also more than welcome to join the fun…

Rökkurró (ISL) (Photo)
Heavy melancholy go hand in hand with a light pop sensation in Icelandic quintet Rökkurró’s universe of haunting, delightfully loose, classically inspired alternative folk with lyrics in their native tongue delivered by an awesome and moving female vocal. They released their first full length album ‘Það Kólnar í Kvöld…’ (“It gets colder tonight”) in Iceland late 2007 followed by a release in Germany and Japan a year later and between March 16 and April 2 Rökkurró tour Europe. If they live up to their recorded material live, there’s every reason to buy a ticket so go check dates and places on their MySpace.

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Joensuu 1685 (SF)
Formed in Helsinki, Finland, in 2007 by brothers Mikko and Markus Joensuu and their by-name-only brother Risto Joensuu, Joensuu 1685 (pronounced “Yo-Anne-Su”) released their eponymous debut album late September 2008 to grand reviews and a nomination for Best Band at the annual Emma Gaala (the Finnish Grammy) which is decided March 14. Judging by the five songs on their MySpace it seems fair, at least if you’re in to wall-of-sound psychedelic rock rooted in the 1960s and 70s which draw on some of the same sources of inspiration as Danish The Raveonettes (witnessed especially by first single ‘Sick City’). I am, so as of today Joensuu 1685 come highly recommended…

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———————————————————————————————— WHO DO YOU THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD HEAR?
Although we spend a lot of time out there, we can’t claim to have heard every band on MySpace, so please feel free to recommend bands – Scandinavian, of course – you think everybody deserve to hear. We do reserve the right not to feature your band(s), but we guarantee to check them out. Drop links to: spacescan@allscandinavian.com