Ismo Alanko

Infobox musical artist
Name = Ismo Alanko

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Img_size = 250
Img_capt = Ismo Alanko at Tammerfest, 2007-07-14.
Landscape = Yes
Background = solo_singer
Origin = Joensuu, Finland
Genre = Rock, Pop, Punk rock
Years_active = 1975-Current
Label = Poko Records
Associated_acts = Hassisen Kone
Sielun Veljet
Ismo Alanko Säätiö
Ismo Alanko Teholla
URL =
Current_members =
Past_members =

Ismo Kullervo Alanko (born November 12, 1960, Helsinki, Finland) is a popular Finnish singer and songwriter. Raised in Joensuu, Finland, he catapulted to fame in 1980 in a new wave group called Hassisen Kone ("Hassinen's Machine", after a local sewing machine shop), which won the Finnish championship in a band competition. In the year 1982, the band started experiencing internal problems and broke up.

Alanko started a new band called Sielun Veljet ("Soul Brothers"). Sielun Veljet's experimental and angular post-punk style was completely different from Hassisen Kone's relatively straightforward new wave, and some fans protested, but Sielun Veljet was a great success mainly for its famous live-shows.

In 1991, after Sielun Veljet broke up, Alanko embarked on a solo career, during which he became interested in electronic music and had many different bands, such as Ismo Alanko Ihmemaassa("Ismo Alanko in Wonderland").

In 1998 Ismo Alanko started the semi-ironically named Ismo Alanko Säätiö (Ismo Alanko Foundation). Though Säätiö performed many of Alanko's old hits, the arrangements were radically revamped to fit with their unique acoustic sound, heavily featuring the avant-garde accordion sound of Kimmo Pohjonen, a successful artist in his own right. Even though Säätiö is a band, it can be said that it is a backing band for solo performances by Ismo Alanko, as members of the band have changed rapidly.

In 2007 Ismo Alanko ended Säätiö in its current form, and began touring with multi-instrumentalist Teho Majamäki.

Discography

* Hassisen Kone
** "Täältä tullaan Venäjä" (1980)
** "Rumat sävelet" (1981)
** "Harsoinen teräs" (1982)

*Sielun Veljet
** "Sielun Veljet" (1983)
** "Lapset" (EP, 1983)
** "Hei soturit" (1984)
** "L'amourha" (1985)
** "Kuka teki huorin" (1986)
** "Suomi - Finland" (1988)
** "Onnenpyörä" (1988)
** "Softwood Music Under Slow Pillars" (1989)
** "Musta laatikko" (1991)
** "Otteita Tuomari Nurmion laulukirjasta" (2007)

* Ismo Alanko
** "Kun Suomi putos puusta" (1990)
** "Jäätyneitä lauluja" (1993)
** "Taiteilijaelämää" (1995)
** "Irti" (1996)

* Ismo Alanko Säätiö
** "Pulu" (1998)
** "Luonnossa" (live, 1999)
** "Sisäinen solarium" (2000)
** "Hallanvaara" (2002)
** "Elävää musiikkia" (live, 2003)
** "Minä ja pojat" (2004)
** "Live DVD" (2005)
** "Ruuhkainen taivas" (2006)

* Ismo Alanko Teholla
** "Blanco Spirituals" (2008)

External links

* [http://www.ismoalanko.com Official site]