The Sperm
Here they are! Finland's most influential underground outfit. Started in the late sixties, this collective of artists from Helsinki, influenced by the whole Andy Warhol, NYC happening scene, brought back the attitude and the freedom of this movement to their native country. Although many artists came and went within the collective and a certain anonymity was respected, the core members revolved around composer interpreterPekka Airaksinen, who was responsible for most of the music, Mattijuhani Koponen, founder, leader, artist, musician and philosopher behind the group, Jan-Olof Mallander, poet and sound artist, he is said to be the one who came up with the name, Peter Widén, visual artist and Antero Helander, saxophonist. Other members went on to become famous on their own and had a smaller role within the group (see Appe Vanajas).
The collective's music is incredible considering when it was composed. It sounds way ahead of it's time and considering how isolated the country is, this makes them of particular interest to anyone fascinated with local sounds. Of course, this music emerged at a time when the world was opening itself to other cultures and ideas; The Sperm's music was clearly influenced by musique concrète, free-jazz and the underground rock scene, but what they managed to create sounds wholly their own and original. Their musique sounds like what is being made today, but over thirty years ago. Would their Shh! album be released today, nobody would blink an eye and think it was from the sixties. This is no small feat. For this alone I have been fascinated and had huge respect for the group ever since I first heard of them.
I don't remember the exact circumstances to how I first heard the name The Sperm. I'm pretty sure it was in conjunction with my research of the recent finnish underground scene. I remember finding out about Airaksinen before The Sperm. The Madam I'm Adam compilation had come out already and I listened to a few excerpts. Korvapoliklinikka Hesperia fascinated me and I tried to find more information about them, but besides the legendary tale of Koponen being arrested for simulating sex with a grand piano in public, there was not much info out there. This is, of course, why I decided to contact Airaksinen and the group myself to shoot a small scale film about them.
Shh!Label: O Records Release: 1970 Format: LP Cat. no: ORLP 0 |
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Shh!Label: Dharmakustannus Release: 1970 Format: CD-R Cat. no: ORFB-112 |
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