As the tidal wave of (mediocre to excellent) Finnish-language rap threatens to drown our Northern confines, such a mature sounding team as Don Johnson Big Band is a veritable island of sun and fun. Tuning on to the wavelengths so far only occupied by the almighty Giant Robot, this rootsy English-speaking quartet manages to interpret the urban soul of their native Helsinki in a poetic, yet realistic manner.

Founded in 1997, the team of 23-year olds (Johannes Laiho on keyboards; Tommy Lindgren, vocals/rap; Pekka Mikkonen, reeds and Kari Saarilahti, guitar and drums) debuts with an astonishingly confident and relaxed set of tunes. It is obvious that 'Support De Microphones' is way too advanced to be accepted by the masses on the Bomfunk MC's scale. Yet aficionados of groove and fans of such classy Finnish hip hop, dance and dub-oriented acts as RinneRadio, Pepe DeLuxe, Paleface and Giant Robot will surely form a considerable underground following. The ridiculous thing is that in this deluge of local hip hop, the talent-laden Don Johnson Big Band had to release its wicked debut independently.

Rating:

PETRI SILAS