Have you ever wondered where the center of the universe is? Well, I can tell you. Apparently, it's in Jyväskylä, Finland. This small town in Northern Finland is also home to one of the most innovative and interesting artists I've heard in years, Keijo. In his 52 years, he has travelled the world and accomplished many things, but recently interest in his music has reached an all-time high with releases on the Lal Lal Lal and Pseudo Arcana imprints (and an upcoming CD-R on another great Finnish label, 267 Lattajjaa). His double-CD release on the latter is one of this year's finest recordings. If there is a king of Finland, Keijo must be it. This interview was conducted through email in May 2004 by Brad Rose. .. feature :: by Brad Rose

An impulse purchase of several titles from the Foxglove (R.I.P.) catalog a few years back introduced me to the music of Kraus. Known to me solely as the former drummer of The Futurians, his “Lamentations of an Ape” CD-R was indeed one of the strangest sounding of the lot. Combining tape loops, wobbly synths, oddly-timed beats, and guitar, Kraus’s primitive sci-fi sound bursts were a refreshing departure from much of the folk and drone music that was coming out at the time. Since then, Kraus has continued to develop his unique sound from his home base of Auckland, New Zealand, and has quietly put out a handful of releases, most of which he has made available for free through his website and others. Through a rather circuitous route of e-mail exchanges, Kraus kindly took the time to respond to some questions about his interest in early electronic music, home-built electronics, and free music distribution among other things. .. feature :: by David Perron

Kuupuu (aka Jonna Karanka) is an emerging cornerstone of the sprawling Finnish underground. The only thing more magical than her music is her personality. She's certainly left her mark on the world of psychedelic music in the past couple years with her work in Avarus, The Anaksimandros, Kukkiva Poliisi, and more recently, Hertta Lussu Ässä (with Lau Nau and Islaja). But Kuupuu is still the best example of what makes her music so great. In fact, Kuupuu's latest 7" on the always great Time-Lag is another essential document. Come walk through the forests with Kuupuu and her cats. .. feature :: by Eden Hemming Rose