Sielun Veljet
Encyclopedia
Sielun Veljet (ˈsi͡elun ˈʋeljet) was a Finnish
rock
band of the 1980s. They were formed soon after the disbanding of Hassisen Kone
by its former frontman Ismo Alanko
. Sielun Veljet never achieved the fame or the record sales figures of Hassisen Kone, but they became famous for their powerful stage presence and aggressive, shamanistic
post-punk
musical style. Most of the band's recorded material is sung in Finnish
, except for their 1989 album Softwood Music Under Slow Pillars
. They have also recorded English language versions of their songs under the moniker L'amourder. In 2011, they released a new song, Nukkuva hirviö (Sleeping beast).
, a successful and well-known new wave
band, disbanded. Singer-guitarist
Alanko and guitarist Jukka Orma wanted to start making a totally different kind of music than what Hassisen Kone had done and what the Finnish public expected of them. The band was complete with bassist
Jouko Hohko and drummer
Alf Forsman.
The band's live performances were loud, energetic and extremely intensive from the beginning, and people soon stopped expecting another Hassisen Kone. The concerts were sometimes extremely long—one gig in Nivala
in the 1980s lasted for four and a half hours and ended only when security personnel forced Alanko off the stage.
The band's self-titled debut album
was recorded live in 1983. Shortly thereafter, with the 1983 EP
Lapset and the 1984 album Hei soturit
, the band started slowly gaining popularity. The two recordings were joined together on later releases.
(1985) became the critical and commercial breakthrough for Sielun Veljet, and remains by far their highest selling album. "Peltirumpu" became the band's first real hit. The album and its follow-up Kuka teki huorin
(1986) are considered the most accessible Sielun Veljet recordings, and remain the band's only studio album gold records
. The song "On Mulla Unelma" (I have a dream) from L'Amourha album was banned by Finnish national broadcasting company, YLE, after it was performed by the band in the Härmärock television show that was broadcast on independence day. The song's lyrics blaspheme Finnish national symbols.
After Kuka teki huorin, Sielun Veljet started re-recording some of their material in English in order to find an audience outside Finland. They recorded an EP
Ritual (1986) and the album Shit-Hot
(1987) using the alias L'amourder. The name is a direct translation of the name of their most successful album - "murha" means "murder" in Finnish. A tour in Europe followed, and the band was even allowed to tour in Soviet Russia
, which proved to be a success.
Suomi-Finland
(1988), recorded in Finnish, saw Sielun Veljet moving into a more acoustic
sound than before. The album's lyrics concentrated on the issues present in late 1980s Finland, such as the growing influence of American
culture. It was followed by all-acoustic Softwood Music Under Slow Pillars
(1989), written in English but not released outside Finland.
in 1991. Musta laatikko included some rarely heard live and studio material, as well as a full live set under the alias Kullervo Kivi & Gehenna. A documentary film
titled Veljet was also released in 1991.
In 2007, Jukka Orma mixed together some Tuomari Nurmio
covers the band had recorded in 1990, some of which had been included on Musta laatikko. The album was released as Otteita Tuomari Nurmion laulukirjasta
, and it reached #1 on the Finnish album charts, highest position ever for Sielun Veljet.
bands, such as Maj Karma
and Turmion Kätilöt
. Turmion Kätilöt have covered the Sielun Veljet song "Volvot ulvoo kuun savuun" on their "Verta ja lihaa" single. A tribute album
to them, titled Säkenöivää voimaa - tribuutti Sielun Veljille, was released in 2002 and featured among others Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus
, Maija Vilkkumaa
(who has also recorded a cover of "Peltirumpu") and Neljä Ruusua
.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band of the 1980s. They were formed soon after the disbanding of Hassisen Kone
Hassisen Kone
Hassisen Kone was a Finnish rock band, founded in 1979 in Joensuu. The young musicians rose to popularity in 1980 after winning the Finnish rock championship in the New Wave category. They recorded three highly successful albums before disbanding in 1982...
by its former frontman Ismo Alanko
Ismo Alanko
Ismo Kullervo Alanko is a Finnish musician. He is known as the frontman of several bands, most famously Hassisen Kone, Sielun Veljet and Ismo Alanko Säätiö, as well as a successful solo artist....
. Sielun Veljet never achieved the fame or the record sales figures of Hassisen Kone, but they became famous for their powerful stage presence and aggressive, shamanistic
Shamanism
Shamanism is an anthropological term referencing a range of beliefs and practices regarding communication with the spiritual world. To quote Eliade: "A first definition of this complex phenomenon, and perhaps the least hazardous, will be: shamanism = technique of ecstasy." Shamanism encompasses the...
post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
musical style. Most of the band's recorded material is sung in Finnish
Finnish language
Finnish is the language spoken by the majority of the population in Finland Primarily for use by restaurant menus and by ethnic Finns outside Finland. It is one of the two official languages of Finland and an official minority language in Sweden. In Sweden, both standard Finnish and Meänkieli, a...
, except for their 1989 album Softwood Music Under Slow Pillars
Softwood Music Under Slow Pillars
Softwood Music Under Slow Pillars is the seventh album of Sielun Veljet, released in 1989. It is the band's only English language album released as Sielun Veljet...
. They have also recorded English language versions of their songs under the moniker L'amourder. In 2011, they released a new song, Nukkuva hirviö (Sleeping beast).
Early history
Sielun Veljet was formed shortly after Hassisen KoneHassisen Kone
Hassisen Kone was a Finnish rock band, founded in 1979 in Joensuu. The young musicians rose to popularity in 1980 after winning the Finnish rock championship in the New Wave category. They recorded three highly successful albums before disbanding in 1982...
, a successful and well-known new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
band, disbanded. Singer-guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Alanko and guitarist Jukka Orma wanted to start making a totally different kind of music than what Hassisen Kone had done and what the Finnish public expected of them. The band was complete with bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Jouko Hohko and drummer
Drummer
A drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
Alf Forsman.
The band's live performances were loud, energetic and extremely intensive from the beginning, and people soon stopped expecting another Hassisen Kone. The concerts were sometimes extremely long—one gig in Nivala
Nivala
Nivala is a town and municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water...
in the 1980s lasted for four and a half hours and ended only when security personnel forced Alanko off the stage.
The band's self-titled debut album
Sielun Veljet (album)
Sielun Veljet is the 1983 debut album of the band of the same name. "Huda huda", a Tuomari Nurmio cover, was later included on the band's tribute album Otteita Tuomari Nurmion laulukirjasta....
was recorded live in 1983. Shortly thereafter, with the 1983 EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Lapset and the 1984 album Hei soturit
Hei soturit
Hei soturit is the second studio album by the Finnish rock group Sielun Veljet. The CD release of the album is titled Hei soturit/Lapset, as it also includes the 1983 EP Lapset ....
, the band started slowly gaining popularity. The two recordings were joined together on later releases.
Breakthrough
L'amourhaL'amourha
L'amourha is the third album of Sielun Veljet. It was their breakthrough album, gaining much of its success from the hit single "Peltirumpu". It is the only Sielun Veljet album to come close to the sales figures of Ismo Alanko's previous group, Hassisen Kone, and remains one of Alanko's most...
(1985) became the critical and commercial breakthrough for Sielun Veljet, and remains by far their highest selling album. "Peltirumpu" became the band's first real hit. The album and its follow-up Kuka teki huorin
Kuka teki huorin
- Track listing :All songs by Ismo Alanko, except where noted.# "Ajá" -- 1:46# "Kuka teki huorin" -- 4:56# "Museossa" -- 4:34# "Säkenöivä voima" -- 3:00# "Kaksin" -- 4:45# "Kansallispäivä" -- 4:28# "Mustamaalaan" -- 3:12...
(1986) are considered the most accessible Sielun Veljet recordings, and remain the band's only studio album gold records
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
. The song "On Mulla Unelma" (I have a dream) from L'Amourha album was banned by Finnish national broadcasting company, YLE, after it was performed by the band in the Härmärock television show that was broadcast on independence day. The song's lyrics blaspheme Finnish national symbols.
After Kuka teki huorin, Sielun Veljet started re-recording some of their material in English in order to find an audience outside Finland. They recorded an EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
Ritual (1986) and the album Shit-Hot
Shit-Hot
Shit-Hot is an album by L'amourder, a pseudonym for Sielun Veljet. It contains re-recorded versions of their songs translated into English.Shit-Hot - Track listing :# Forever hungry # Luminous force ....
(1987) using the alias L'amourder. The name is a direct translation of the name of their most successful album - "murha" means "murder" in Finnish. A tour in Europe followed, and the band was even allowed to tour in Soviet Russia
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic
The Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic , commonly referred to as Soviet Russia, Bolshevik Russia, or simply Russia, was the largest, most populous and economically developed republic in the former Soviet Union....
, which proved to be a success.
Suomi-Finland
Suomi-Finland
Suomi-Finland is the sixth studio album of the Finnish rock band Sielun Veljet. It was released in 1988 between two English language albums, Shit-Hot and Softwood Music Under Slow Pillars...
(1988), recorded in Finnish, saw Sielun Veljet moving into a more acoustic
Acoustic music
Acoustic music comprises music that solely or primarily uses instruments which produce sound through entirely acoustic means, as opposed to electric or electronic means...
sound than before. The album's lyrics concentrated on the issues present in late 1980s Finland, such as the growing influence of American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
culture. It was followed by all-acoustic Softwood Music Under Slow Pillars
Softwood Music Under Slow Pillars
Softwood Music Under Slow Pillars is the seventh album of Sielun Veljet, released in 1989. It is the band's only English language album released as Sielun Veljet...
(1989), written in English but not released outside Finland.
Breakup
After the commercial failure of Softwood Music, the band decided to quit. A greatest hits collection Myytävänä! was released the same year, followed by a three-CD box set Musta laatikkoMusta laatikko
Musta laatikko is a box set by Sielun Veljet, released in 1991. The first one of its three CDs contains material that was supposed to become a studio album before the band broke up...
in 1991. Musta laatikko included some rarely heard live and studio material, as well as a full live set under the alias Kullervo Kivi & Gehenna. A documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
titled Veljet was also released in 1991.
In 2007, Jukka Orma mixed together some Tuomari Nurmio
Tuomari Nurmio
Tuomari Nurmio is the artist name of Hannu Juhani Nurmio , a Finnish rock singer and songwriter.-Work:Since his debut album, Nurmio has been regarded as one of the most original Finnish singer-songwriters. His lyrics are filled with peculiar and arresting metaphors and expressions, some of which...
covers the band had recorded in 1990, some of which had been included on Musta laatikko. The album was released as Otteita Tuomari Nurmion laulukirjasta
Otteita Tuomari Nurmion laulukirjasta
Otteita Tuomari Nurmion laulukirjasta is a tribute album by Sielun Veljet to Tuomari Nurmio, recorded in 1990 but only released in 2007. It is the only Sielun Veljet recording to top the Finnish album charts....
, and it reached #1 on the Finnish album charts, highest position ever for Sielun Veljet.
Influence
Sielun Veljet has influenced several Finnish rock and metalHeavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
bands, such as Maj Karma
Maj Karma
Maj Karma is a Finnish rock / metal band formed in 1992.-Current line-up:* Herra Ylppö - vocals and lyrics* Häiriö Piirinen - guitar* Kimmo Kurittu - bass guitar...
and Turmion Kätilöt
Turmion Kätilöt
Turmion Kätilöt is a Finnish industrial metal band founded in 2003 by MC Raaka Pee and DJ Vastapallo, who until the latter's departure, were the only studio lineup...
. Turmion Kätilöt have covered the Sielun Veljet song "Volvot ulvoo kuun savuun" on their "Verta ja lihaa" single. A tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
to them, titled Säkenöivää voimaa - tribuutti Sielun Veljille, was released in 2002 and featured among others Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus
Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus
Timo Rautiainen & Trio Niskalaukaus was a metal music band from Finland, formed in 1997. The band was led by Timo Rautiainen, leading member of Finnish metallers Lyijykomppania, a band which still has an underground cult following in the scene. The musical influence of the band ranges from Black...
, Maija Vilkkumaa
Maija Vilkkumaa
Maija Johanna Vilkkumaa a Finnish pop rock singer-songwriter. Beginning her musical hobbies playing piano at an age before school, Vilkkumaa studied in high school where she and her friends set up the band Tarharyhmä in 1990, which broke up in 1995...
(who has also recorded a cover of "Peltirumpu") and Neljä Ruusua
Neljä Ruusua
Neljä Ruusua is a Finnish rock group formed in the city of Joensuu in 1982. The group consists of guitarist-singer Ilkka Alanko, guitarist Petteri Koistinen, bass guitarist Jari Laakkonen and drummer Kari Kämäräinen. Their style of music was influenced by punk in their earlier years, but changed...
.
Studio albums
| Released | Title | Performer | Chart Peak | Certification | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Lapset (EP Extended play An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact... ) |
Sielun Veljet | - | - | Poko |
| 1984 | Hei soturit Hei soturit Hei soturit is the second studio album by the Finnish rock group Sielun Veljet. The CD release of the album is titled Hei soturit/Lapset, as it also includes the 1983 EP Lapset .... |
- | - | ||
| 1985 | L'amourha L'amourha L'amourha is the third album of Sielun Veljet. It was their breakthrough album, gaining much of its success from the hit single "Peltirumpu". It is the only Sielun Veljet album to come close to the sales figures of Ismo Alanko's previous group, Hassisen Kone, and remains one of Alanko's most... |
- | Gold (1986) | ||
| 1986 | Kuka teki huorin Kuka teki huorin - Track listing :All songs by Ismo Alanko, except where noted.# "Ajá" -- 1:46# "Kuka teki huorin" -- 4:56# "Museossa" -- 4:34# "Säkenöivä voima" -- 3:00# "Kaksin" -- 4:45# "Kansallispäivä" -- 4:28# "Mustamaalaan" -- 3:12... |
- | Gold (1995) | ||
| Ritual (MAFTER 3) (EP Extended play An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact... ) |
L'amourder | - | - | ||
| Shit-Hot Shit-Hot Shit-Hot is an album by L'amourder, a pseudonym for Sielun Veljet. It contains re-recorded versions of their songs translated into English.Shit-Hot - Track listing :# Forever hungry # Luminous force .... |
- | - | |||
| 1988 | Suomi-Finland Suomi-Finland Suomi-Finland is the sixth studio album of the Finnish rock band Sielun Veljet. It was released in 1988 between two English language albums, Shit-Hot and Softwood Music Under Slow Pillars... |
Sielun Veljet | - | - | |
| 1989 | Softwood Music Under Slow Pillars Softwood Music Under Slow Pillars Softwood Music Under Slow Pillars is the seventh album of Sielun Veljet, released in 1989. It is the band's only English language album released as Sielun Veljet... |
- | - | ||
| 1991 | Musta laatikko Musta laatikko Musta laatikko is a box set by Sielun Veljet, released in 1991. The first one of its three CDs contains material that was supposed to become a studio album before the band broke up...
|
Sielun Veljet Sielun Veljet Kullervo Kivi & Gehenna-yhtye |
- | - | |
| 2007 | Otteita Tuomari Nurmion laulukirjasta Otteita Tuomari Nurmion laulukirjasta Otteita Tuomari Nurmion laulukirjasta is a tribute album by Sielun Veljet to Tuomari Nurmio, recorded in 1990 but only released in 2007. It is the only Sielun Veljet recording to top the Finnish album charts.... |
Sielun Veljet | 1 | - |
Live albums
| Released | Title | Performer | Chart Peak | Certification | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Sielun Veljet Sielun Veljet (album) Sielun Veljet is the 1983 debut album of the band of the same name. "Huda huda", a Tuomari Nurmio cover, was later included on the band's tribute album Otteita Tuomari Nurmion laulukirjasta.... |
Sielun Veljet | - | - | Poko |
| 1988 | Onnenpyörä Onnenpyörä Onnenpyörä is a live cover album by Sielun Veljet under four different aliases, released in 1988.- Track listing :# Leputation of the Slaves: "It's My Life" -- 3:41... |
Leputation of the Slaves Pimpline & The Defenites Kullervo Kivi & Gehenna-yhtye Adolf und die Freie Scheisse |
- | - | Seal on Velvet |
| 1989 | Fuck Women, Let's Dance - Live in der Grouppentheater | Pimpline und the Defenites (Sielun Veljet without Alanko) | - | - |
Compilations
| Released | Title | Performer | Chart Peak | Certification | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Myytävänä! | Sielun Veljet | - | - | Poko |
| 2003 | Aina nälkä - Veljien 20 pahinta hittiä | 16 | Gold (2006) |
DVDs
| Released | Title | Performer | Certification | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Sielun Veljet DVD | Sielun Veljet | - | Poko |
Singles
| Released | Title | Performer | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | "Emil Zatopek" | Sielun Veljet | Poko |
| 1985 | "Toiset on luotuja kulkemaan" | ||
| "Peltirumpu" | |||
| 1986 | "Kevät" | ||
| "I Will Stay" | The Leputation of the Slaves | ||
| "Tin Drum" | L'amourder | ||
| "Museossa" | Sielun Veljet | ||
| 1987 | "Rakkaudesta" | ||
| 1988 | "Ihminen" | ||
| 1989 | "Meidän äiti imppaa" | Pate Pate Mustajärvi Pauli Antero "Pate" Mustajärvi is a Finnish rock singer. He is known as the vocalist, frontman and only original member of Popeda as well as a solo artist... & Sielun Veljet |
|
| 1991 | "Laatikoita" | Sielun Veljet | |
| 1992 | "Säkenöivä voima" |
External links
- Sielun Veljet at poko.fi
- Unofficial fan page
- Official website