Well, you all know of our unconditional love for Springsteen. Maybe one or two of you also know of our love for the band Joensuu 1685. So you can imagine our excitement when we found out that those two artists sort of crossed paths and new music was created. Joensuu 1685 have posted up their cover of “I’m On Fire” by Bruce Springsteen and it’s everything we ever dreamed of. To be honest, every time someone covers Bruce I absolutely hate it. Passionately (except for maybe Johnny Cash’s cover of this same song). Oh and I liked “My Father’s House” by Ben Harper… ok so never mind the ‘hate everything’ comment. Whatever, check out the “extended version” of the song below, love it and even download it if you like. They also have the non-extended version posted up on their MySpace.

Joensuu 1685 is worth checking out for those who love shoegaze, video feedback and opium. Well, maybe not opium. Either way, just check out the video above and visit them on MySpace for more songs. We hope they can eventually get a release here in the US.

Recently an A&SB family member took a trip to Finland for a music conference and came back with a collection of some of the finest music we have never heard. The music world of Scandinavia is a grossly untapped resource of incredible art that we feel needs to brought into the U.S. mainstream. One of those artists in his mighty collection that stood out was JOENSUU 1685. Their new, self-titled album takes everything you love from My Bloody Valentine, Skywave and The Jesus & Mary Chain and blends it together beautifully – giving you the feeling of taking a warm piss on a cold Winter’s night. This album has yet to dock on the shores of U.S., but for now check out the song “You Shine Brighter Than The Light” on their MySpace or in the video below and expect to hear more about the band who John Ponemon of Subpop called “the most impressive artist” of the Lost In Music festival of Finland.