Pikku Kukka

The band I’ve listened most during the past few weeks is the charming finnish band Pikku Kukka. Their music is characterized by harmonized singing of the two girls Emilia and Lotta who both write songs and play the keyboards. They’ve released two albums Palma (2007) and Pois ympäröivä maa (2009) with a backing trio including the bassist and guitarist from the Finnish “wire-metal” band Viikate.

Covers of Palma (2007) and Pois ympäröivä maa (2009)

I bought the previous album a couple of weeks ago and the second album just before New Year. Right now I’m listening to songs from both records on shuffle while shaking my head, singing along and playing imaginary drums along with the catchy rhythms. I find the two albums very similar although Pois ympäröivä maa has a slightly refined sound and includes a bit more solid song material. At any case, I see Pikku Kukka more through their songs, not by albums.

I find Pikku Kukka’s songs playing in my head all the time. There are lots of hooks, but it doesn’t mean that they are boring easy-come-easy-go songs but instead I can listen to the same songs again and again finding myself still not having enough. The combination of beautiful, catchy melodies sang with full voice (which I learned to love recently seeing gigs by First Aid Kit and The Tallest Man On Earth) and harmonies and the tight rhythmic work by the backing band is simply irresistible.

The first band that Pikku Kukka brought to my mind was Ultra Bra, a Finnish band from the late 90s, because of the lyric-driven multi-voiced songs. Another comparison could be made to PMMP which is similarly a Finnish duo with two female vocalists writing impressive lyrics and performing with a three-piece band. I also find Pikku Kukka’s sound a surprising combination of naïve junior high school band sound and skillfully-played progressive rock. I usually like a sort of rough, realistic sound instead sterile, over-produced sound but with Pikku Kukka I feel that a bit more modern sound could suite the songs. On the other hand, it could take away the organic, oldies sounding side of Pikku Kukka that I’ve learned to like.

For me, having listened lately to a huge number of indie bands singing in English with lo-fi sound, electronic influences and all that, Pikku Kukka feels fresh, interesting, personal and real. Even though knowing the band for only a short time, it’s hard to imagine that I’d get bored of songs like Hiljaisuus, Tyttö ja poika, Hän tanssi minut, 14 varista, Kaarnalaivat or Valtaosa.

Pikku Kukka @ Myspace
http://pikkukukka.blogspot.com/