Discography: As JANNE HAAVISTO (solo recording): Welcome Tourist We Take Your Dolar (Texicalli Records), As JANNE HAAVISTO & THE FARANGS: Permanent Jet Lag (Texicalli Records), As THE FARANGS: We Must Be Losing It (MuFarang International), HELSINKI (Miikka Paatelainen & Janne Haavisto) (MuFarang International), SOLO ADULTOS: Lost Weekends (Chris Cote & Janne Haavisto)(MuFarang International) -----BIO: Like every worthwhile historic producer, Janne Haavisto (b. 1964) suffers from severe studioholism. If this overflowingly imaginative man is not inside the control room hunched over a mixing desk in the throes of engineeging ecstasy, he can most often be found on the other side of the glass furiously wailing away on various drums and/or percussion instruments.The offspring of a jazz vibraphonist father and the youngest of three siblings, all of whom went on to become professional actors or musicians, Janne Haavisto commenced his career as a drummer in the early 1980s and as a producer in the early 1990s. Throughout the years the arduous man has performed in groundbreaking groups, backed up high-profile songwriters and produced a variety of artists from the lofty fields of folklore to the trashy confines of underground pop. Haavisto has been awarded with the Emma Prize (the Finnish equivalent of the Grammy Award) for Best Production of the Year in 1992.Janne Haavisto is a founding member of two ultra-cool Finnish instrumental combos: Laika & The Cosmonauts, a space-surfing melange of twangedelia and The JP’s, a punky orgy of organ jazz. The firstmentioned has managed to win over quite an eclectic bunch of international admirers. Jim Jarmusch, Teisco Del Rey, and Benmont Tench all heap praise on Laika & The Cosmonauts, and in 1999 Ministry’s almighty Al Jourgensen (a diehard fan ever since 1993’s ’Instruments of Terror’) proclaimed that the only relevant contemporary music makers are Laika & The Cosmonauts and Tom Waits. In addition, Jourgensen put his money where his mouth is by inviting Laika & The Cosmonauts to open for Ministry on the US leg of the â€Sphinctour†in 1996.In his capacity as a producer and engineer Haavisto’s name has become synonymous with wild experimenting and warm washes of sound. The marrying of lo-fi aesthetics and antique analog gear with vanguardian ideas and up-to-the-minute studio equipment became the man’s bread and butter as he co-founded the studio Hitsville IV in 1994. This musical laboratory acted as the birthplace for ’Welcome Tourist, We Take Your Dolar’, Janne’s groovy and exotic 2000 solo debut where he played all the instruments himself.The man’s sophomore effort, the dreamy theme album ’Permanent Jet Lag’ came out in 2002, and this time he had invited some friends along. The core musicians came from Haavisto’s newly-founded Finnish live band the Farangs, but some international guests like guitarist Marc Ribot and vocal wonder Chris Cote were also featured. Among the local guests were e.g. singer/songwriter Markus Nordenstreng, bassist Pekka Lehti, and keyboardists Olli Ahvenlahti and J-P Virtanen.After selected shows in Finland and the USA, the line-up of the Farangs reached a status quo. This happened right before the beginning of the sessions for the third album to showcase Janne Haavisto’s music. Apart from its leader, the band boasted the talents of Chris Cote, keyboardist Okke Komulainen, percussionist Abdissa Assefa, and the .."string trio.." of Olli Haavisto, Miikka Paatelainen, and Jarmo Nikku which would take of everything from bass guitar to lap steel.This line-up, the members of which have performed and/or recorded in the ranks of the Bomfunk MC’s, Giant Robot, RinneRadio, Cool Sheiks and others laid the foundation on which the album ’We Must Be Losing It’ was based. But true to his innovative spirit, Haavisto wanted to add some extra to the mix. Marc Ribot accepted the invitation to appear on another Farangs album, as did vocalist Barrence Whitfield. The new â€Honourary Farangs†include the likes of author Paul Auster, and guitarist Wayne Kramer. They both deliver a riveting spoken-word contribution.Not unlike the legendary Les Baxter, the undaunted Janne Haavisto has managed to conjure up a musical world all unto its own. Perhaps because of the man’s burning passion for film music and movies in general, these discs provide some of the most exciting aural experiences of past times. Like some demented mix between Mitchell Froom, Lee â€Scratch†Perry, Ginger Baker, and Clyde Stubblefield, the indestructible Janne Haavisto continues to be an everlasting inspiration for everyone he crosses paths with.Petri Silas, May 2005
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