Friendly Fire Recordings has always been good about seeking out and introducing the states (i.e. the U.S.) to great foreign artists. Their latest introduction is that of Finnish electro-pop band Regina.
We discovered the band a number of years ago — they’ve been around for quite a while — thanks to a handful of releases on Songs I Wish I Had Written.
“Unessa” is a catchy foreign language song that follows Regina’s lovable hooks, and the band’s ability to craft cool, nerdy electro-pop. But where once the band focused on synths, …

The Dø are a French meets Finnish duo who released their debut LP, A Mouthful on Six Degrees Records earlier this month, which prompted the infamous Pitchfork to state the album “is as ambitious and fun as any coming-out party in recent memory.” After giving it a listen, I can attest that it is pretty damn fun. “At Last” is an easy favorite with over-pronounced words sung in a sexy foreign accent and a laid-back, calm guitar strum that dares you not to fall in love.

Pooma, from Finland’s Helsinki, may have formed in 2000, but they are only now breaking beyond the Finnish borders to give the world a taste of their melancholy Scandinavian shoegaze. Persuader begins with “If May Starts Tomorrow”, introducing us to the atmospheric drones that give Pooma the shoegaze label. This is pretty much what one can expect from Persuader; loud, intense shoegaze drone.