HELSINKI
The band fronted by Nick Green, brother of former local Overground-fronting country-rock star Anthony Green, who just happens to help out on keyboards here. Helsinki provide us with more of this month’s not-so-rare commodity: world-weary semi-acoustic rustic indie rock with heavy 60s overtones. It trudges through the sleet and sludge of its own melancholy to the pub of existential angst on yonder far hill, there to sup heartily from the barrel of sorrow. In truth they’ve come on some since we first saw them live last year, having stripped some of the sound away to let the songs breathe a bit, but it’s still sad pills city here - the simple and delicate melodies sounding too sorry for themselves to gain your sympathy (and with titles like ‘Alone on Stage’ and ‘Days Are Dark Sometimes’, you know this ain’t Cheeky Girls territory). “Let’s go out dancing / Everything will be alright”, sings Nick. Y’see, that’s the spirit, lad! Go out! Meet girls! Take ecstasy! Wear a toga if you must - life is good, no?