If there is one thing I remember from GCSE Maths, it’s that Sin Cos Tan is a clusterfuck of trigonometry that is more likely to give you a headache than find the angle of an obtuse triangle. Thankfully, the equations that make up this Sin Cos Tan – Jori Hulkkonen and Juho Paalosmaaare Jin – provide a sonic nurofen to make you forget the woes of any mental arithmetic. Building from the release of their self-titled debut album in 2012, Sin Cos Tan have returned with a suitably synthpop follow-up, in the form of Afterlife. Below, you can take a listen to the Casey Spooner-featuring album track, and continue scrolling for a list of influences that includes 80s Marvel comics, Star Trek and synths…
The Manual by Jimmy Cauty and Bill Drummond
Jori: “The Manual by Jimmy Cauty and Bill Drummond, aka The JAMS, aka The KLF. Blueprint and an honest account on music biz of the late 80’s/early 90’s. Still relevant, and most of all a fantastic read. Yes, on an ARP Odyssey.”
Atari 2600
Jori: “Computer games of the late 70’s and early 80’s rewired my brain to enjoy electronic noise. That’s the original membershop card. Yes, on a 909.”
Star Trek TNG
Jori: “Star Trek TNG, the best TV-show ever. Giving me the moral guidelines to living my parents may have missed. Yes, that’s me on the bridge.”
Modular Synths
Jori: “That’s my small portable doublesystem with a TAMA drummodule attached. Nothing beats patching modular cables. It’s better than love.”
Childhood
Juho: “I grew up in the sleepy suburbs of east-Helsinki. Symbolic picture loosely based on actual events.”
80s Marvel Comics
Juho: “80s Marvel comics inspired me to start drawing. I used to love the cosmic stories above all – they had the wildest aesthetics and scenarios. My mind was wild.”
Movies
Juho: “Here’s an image from Michael Mann’s ‘Heat’. Cool, huh?”
Blue Skies
Juho: “Blue skies. Mother nature’s Prozac.”
These
Juho: “Three inspiring things in just one picture – My Yamaha Electone. Planet Earth. Prince.”
- James Embiricos
Afterlife is out 22nd November via Solina Records / Sugarcane Recordings