Artist: Anton Nikkila
Genre(s):
Experimental
Discography:
Formalist
Year: 1998
Tracks: 12
Anton Nikkilä started in the rock underground in the early '80s, switched to the observational electronica picture in the late '90s, but remained tucked away in a glowering nook of Finland all that time. In 2000, he and Alexei Borisov founded the label N&B Research Digest in an exploit to push their ferment below the eyes of music critics and criminal record buyers. It actually worked (at least in part). He is charles Herbert Best known for his use of Muzak samples in quirky pieces influenced by the Austrian scene revolving approximately the label Mego.
Nikkilä made his debuts in a number of Helsinki (Suomi) rock candy bands like Mietoherne and Swissair; the latter was the longest-running, persistent a decennium. Some of these groups make left self-released cassettes (a few tracks canful be heard on the compilation CD-R Pilottilasit: Samples From Helsinki Underground 1981-1987). One of his main collaborators at the time was Mika Taanila, likewise in Swissair, with whom he recorded the 7" EP Kytkentätaulun Valot in 1992.
In the 1980s, Nikkilä's groups played post-punk-influenced minimal rock with a touch of electronics and lo-fi aesthetics that foretold the post-rock movement of the late '90s. But when the style caught on, the artist had already turned to electronics, following the developments of the European techno picture. Teaming up with friend Alexei Borisov, he experimented with techno, bug, the naïve electro-pop of Felix Kubin (a.o.), and finally released his kickoff solo album, Formalist, in 1998 on the Russian label Exotica. The geminate started N&B Research Digest in 2000 mainly to release their possess projects. Since then Nikkilä has appeared on the compilation Geologists and Professional Tourists (a numeral of duets with Borisov), the aforesaid Pilottilasit, and has released his sec solo CD, Egg white Nights. He is involved in the Helsinki-based electronic music fete Avanto.
