The recently retired and miraculously returned-from-the-dead super-Canadian that is Drew Harris released a new album – his sixth! – under the moniker Germany Germany. Being a supporter of Poule d’Or from day one – the first actually – it is always a special day when he is stepping out of his laboratory – in coat and goggles – with some new sounds. Coming from a thunderous debut year where he released more than 50 songs – and all brilliant! – this album is his first release this year and it seems that he took his time with this one.

Having a reputation for exact electronic production and rhythmic dance tracks, Black Mind Empty Heart feels a bit more introspective and closer to the ambient side of Germany Germany’s rich sound spectrum. Standout tracks for the Poule are With You that makes Futurecop look like school children and Not Alone, a dreamy gem that sounds like it took the DeLorean in 1985 and recorded itself on 2012 instruments. Epic.

Germany Germany’s beautiful dark twisted fantasy is available now on bandcamp, there are also a few cassette tapes left. No there aren’t.

Germany Germany – With You feat. Kotomi

More Germany Germany on Poule d’Or.

Reading through Flow Festival’s line-up, almost every second band is described as ‘one of the most potential newcomers in the Finnish scene’. Fair enough. With Burning Hearts however they might actually be on to something. Textbook perfect indie pop, easy to digest. Loving it. Their debut album was released in spring and they spent the summer touring Europe, so playing in their hometown after what will probably have been an exciting first half of the year for them promises to be a good time for everyone involved. They are playing Nokia Blue Tent on Sunday, 15h30.

[soundcloud width=640 url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/13845336″ iframe=”true” /]

All Poule d’Or picks for Flow Festival here.

Sydney-based long-haired Sticky Fingers released the first song off their debut album – which won’t be out til Spring 2013 (thirteen!!) – but hey. It’s good. It’s here. It’s now.

Sticky Fingers – Caress Your Soul

More Sticky Fingers on Poule d’Or.

Second pick for Helsinki’s Flow Festival next week: Helsinki native Antero Lindgren. Some really fine Scandinavian folk pop music. His debut album is out now. More good songs on his Soundcloud. Not gonna make the reference to Bon Iver – but it’s not just the beard. He/they are playing Open Source Stage on Friday, 20h30.

[soundcloud width=640 url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/38112216″ iframe=”true” /]

All Poule d’Or picks for Flow Festival here.

Nimmo and the Gauntletts‘ EP has been stuck in my head for weeeeks. WEEKS! The young Brits Sarah Nimmo and Reva Gauntlett have released this brilliant song collection in January and it turns out the tracks have been floating around on Soundcloud for almost a year. How did we (I) miss them?!

Young Light is packed with passionate indie pop/folk that only musicians from post-punk Great Britain seem to be able to deliver. With the careful addition of violin and saxophone they create a unique and ultimately addictive sound. And on top of that, their lyrics about love and death (and those deep things – you know) actually feel honest and intimate. Genuinely beautiful songs.

Attached is Bandol Blues, “and you sang, well are you scared of flirting with death? Well I said no, I’m just afraid of flirting with myself.” It does actually feel like proper art, poetry. A beautiful record and truly amazing debut – out now through their label Town House Records and up for streaming on Soundcloud.

[soundcloud width=640 url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/24124374″ iframe=”true” /]