Helsinki, Finland musician Antti Reikko, who goes by the interesting moniker, Koria Kitten Riot, released a splendid debut album at the end of October of last year, that remarkably, went largely unnoticed.
While Reikko is no newbie to indie rock enthusiasts, especially followers of the Nordic scene, so to speak, his solo work as KKR has not received the “blog love” it deserves. In fact, Reikko is probably best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the indie band Johnny Superhero.
In 2006, Reikko established KKR, in order to create an outlet for his more “gentle, acoustic songs that didn’t fit Johnny Superhero’s style,” he told IRC. “Koria Kitten Riot is a complete musical dictatorship.”
“The Streets and Their Names” – Koria Kitten Riot from s/t debut (2009)
Reikko does just about everything on his debut solo LP, including songwriting, singing, acoustic guitar, synthesizer, mandolin, piano, glockenspiel, harmonica, and so on. Johnny Superhero drummer Tuomas Lankinen contributed the drum tracks, and the band’s bassist, Matti Vasanen, was responsible for trombone work on some tracks.
Working on a shoe-string budget, Reikko recorded all of the music himself in his bedroom using GarageBand, two microphones and a Behringer mixer connected to a MacBook.
“I wanted to [record] an album anyone could do…and show people you don’t necessarily need expensive equipment or studios to make music,” Reikko told IRC. “I somehow felt very devoted to a DIY attitude at the time.”
A friend, Eino Anttila, mixed the album’s final tracks after hearing the demos on MySpace.
The track, “At the End of the World,” from the album was recently featured in major film in Finland, titled, Toinen Jalka Haudasta (One Foot From the Grave) and released as part of the film’s official soundtrack, although it differs from the original track because, Reikko said, the producers wanted a “more commercial version.”
“At the End of the World” – Koria Kitten Riot from s/t debut (2009)
“There wasn’t a lot of resources in recording the album,” Reikko told IRC. “Finishing the album took over a year – things often progress slowly when there’s no money or corporations involved. But some songs just need to be recorded, otherwise they won’t leave you alone.”
Among his influences, Reikko cites Elliott Smith, Neil Young, Sufjan Stevens, Bright Eyes, Nick Drake, Jon Auer, Damien Rice, The Flaming Lips, Regina Spektor, among others. Usually someone with that kind of list really knows his music.
A full-length album titled, Homes, from Johnny Superhero is also in final mixing and mastering stages, Reikko said, and a KKR follow up album is in early stages of production.
“The Wedding Waltz” – Koria Kitten Riot from s/t debut (2009)
“4 AM Cars” – Koria Kitten Riot from s/t debut (2009)