Everyone knows that music exported from Scandinavia is generally tops, but there is a relatively new type of electronica from Finland that has, of yet, not become a mainstream concern. Skweee (yep, their genres even have better names) is a lot of fun. In fact, it’s so bubbling with cheeky melodies and itchy rhythms that it feels wrong to describe it as ‘electronica’ – a hateful term normally used to describe the noxious ejaculate of former dance music producers who have started taking themselves seriously as ‘artists’. No, Skweee, if anything, is a brand new type of funk. Fresh, Finnish funk. Here are the essentials:
Mesak – Moto-Gucci
One half of the duo in charge of the highly influential Harmonia label (the other half being Randy Barracuda – more on him later), Mesak has plenty of tunes worthy of mention. This one in particular though, causes the hips to gyrate in a rather suggestive manner. Imagine if Prince had chosen not to pursue a career in pop, but had instead spent the 80s writing soundtracks for Nintendo arcade games; it’s highly unlikely that he would have penned anything as dizzyingly fresh as this.
Randy Barracuda – Lajinsa Vilimeinen
What an adorable name. We like to think that he uses it throughout his daily life, introducing himself to the ladies with an arched eyebrow, “Hi. I’m Randy Barracuda”. A smattering of coquettish giggles would no doubt be the standard reply. Those of you concerned with the man’s music as well as his amusing moniker will also be pleased to know that this track is a belter. Chunky, wipe-clean synths are woven together to create a luscious slow-burning slice of dance music.
Eero Johannes – We Could Be Skweeeroes
For good or ill, Skweee artists seem quite keen on song titles containing puns (see also Randy Barracuda’s Skweee Like a Pig). Rather confusingly, Eero also references Bowie here, despite the track not containing any element of the original song. Instead we find robotic slap bass being combined with electronic beeps and a variety of processed strings to create a tune that is all at once a sleazy, slow funk jam and a slightly oriental, melodic soundscape. Yep, we know that sounds entirely wrong, but trust us, it’s quite brilliant.
Beem – The Famous
Beem is another producer who could have two or three songs on this list (see for yourselves – his album is available as a free download from his website). The Famous is our pick because it has all of the classic Skweee characteristics – the shuffly beat that makes you wiggle your tush, 80s synth sounds and grin-inducing, infectious melodies. If a Planet of the Apes-style future scenario does await our planet, and long after we are dead, chimps evolve to the point where they are able to master really difficult urban-dance choreography, this is exactly the sort of thing they’ll start poppin’ to.
Wankers United – La Moulette Encantee
By now some of you are probably starting to think that this whole article is something we’ve made up as a joke, but please trust us (or look on Wikipedia) – Skweee is real and Wankers United are pretty damn good at making it. If you like bass music with a bit of subtlety then these French producers should be right up votre allée. When the clipped Major 7th chords are added to the voluminous low-end half way through the track, it becomes difficult not to get a boner over how deliciously understated it all is.
Rigas Den Andre – I Am Crane
Rigas is clearly a man who loves electronic sounds: whomps, beeps, buzzes and sirens are all accounted for here. Rising out of all the clatter is a wonderfully dramatic melody-line, which propels the tune to new heights. Lock Mike Oldfield in a padded cell with only a synthesizer, a drum machine and a bag of Crystal Meth for company, and he might well produce something that sounds like this.
You can hear plenty of Skweee being played by the Donky Pitch crew
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