Fanta4 Live - 2009 & 2024 (& 2019)

Die Fantastischen Vier have made quite a few live recordings. And they are a great live hiphop crew. More experienced live than most crews too. Heimspiel (4 LP) document their 20-year anniversary concert, Long Player on Tour (4 LP), their latest, their 35 years as a group. And counting!

Both concerts were recorded in Fanta hometown Stuttgart, so they gave all they had live on both occasions. Stuttgart is a hiphop metropolis, but I bought both albums on LP in German’s undisputed hiphop capital Hamburg in December, had them both on CD from before.

Can they be compared? 10 same songs are on both albums, 25 years apart. Heimspiel is by a much younger band, but still a very experienced band, after 20 years together. It is a very fine live album, Neues Land in a superb version and the last side H is among the best they have ever recorded, a wonderful version of Tag am Meer before an explosive adrenalin-filled and stunning Ernten Was Wir Säen, before ending with Populär. Yes, Fanta4 sure were and are Populär in Germany. There are some duller moments on the album where the material is slightly weaker, but this is compensated by the fantastic highlights. A great album.

The soundscape is somewhat different on Long Player, were electro-influences are much stronger. If Heimspiel was a much more analogue album with impressive strings and brass musicians on stage, Long Player makes use of synthesized electro-sounds and produce a soundscape that is clearer and crisper. There are pros and cons for both when comparing. Comparing setlists, I would on a whole consider Long Player the stronger material, but there is of course 25 more years of great music to choose from. This includes later favorites like Danke, Endzeitstimmung and Zusammen. That said, Heimspiel has also a fine setlist, and as earlier mentioned, the highlights and the energy-level is astounding.

The highlights on Long Player on Tour are also spectacular, and over 4 LP:s we find some weaker spots also here. But overall it feels like the slightly better whole. In itself spectacular that Fanta4 has kept up performances and appearances for this long, and still sound even better. Impressive!

I would not choose either one, but rather see them as complementing albums, complementing the picture of a truly fantastic band, Die Fantastischen Vier. They also documented their large 30 year anniversary as a band with a live album, but this time recorded in Köln. It’s another stunner, but I have a weak spot for the live celebrations in their hometown, especially after having lived in Stuttgart myself. If you go for only one Fanta4 live album you can easily choose any of these three and still have a great Fanta4 live album in your collection. Strings or electro? Your choice.

All considered, however, I find Long Player on Tour the stronger album, and my first choice, but I would not want to be without the magnificent highlights of Heimspiel. 30 Jahre concert is another, third, wonderful live document of the Fanta4 saga, strongly ending with a beautiful Zusammen. Yes, still together, and now over 35 years. And 30 Jahre was a recording from the last truly great live music year, before corona changed everything, 2919. There you have it. 

Die Fantastischen Vier. Live. Always great on vinyl.

Your choice.

Limited but Limitless Playlist - strictly limited 7” mix

Bought a very nice metal box for transporting 7”-singles, well first idea was to mainly store 7” singles there. There is room for 30-35, it says. And it gave me the idea of a real challenge. Could I make a nice set based exclusively on the 7” singles that I have here with me in this room, now? And that was not too many, just a small part of my singles collection, and quite randomly selected, as I had only two boxes of singles there at the moment. Could I make a performance only from these, less than 200, quite randomly selected singles? Singles that were not selected for any playlists or sets but earlier put together in boxes for storage reasons. And of my singles-boxes I randomly chose two.

Could I make a dj playlist of singles that would fit in my new metal box? And would it be any good? 

There was room for 31 singles, as two have very thick covers, and, as I chose both sides of one, so 32 songs. No more. 

Well, this is the result, hope to take a mobile record player with me to a happening, party or picnic someday and actually do the gig for friends.

A fun challenge that I recommend to all you vinylists and music lovers out there. Discuss and swap lists with your music-nerd friends and share favorite soundbites from the list. I excluded albums, LP:s, CD:s, 12” maxis, c-casettes and, of course, digital playlists, to concentrate on what to do with two small 7” singles boxes. Makes you rethink a part of your music collection as well. So I certainly will do it again, with other boxes or formats.

Here we go, 

all are 7” singles, among the few available, at that given moment. 

And yes,

There’s some kind of romanzing and some real concious  thinkin’ going on!

And there’s a whole lotta bumpin’ and a whole lotta jumpin’ going on! 

Come get a bit of this, and get a bit of that, get a bit of what’s going on!

LIMITED BUT LIMITLESS 7” SINGLES PLAYLIST (Feb2026)

The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song (Picture Disc)/The Flaming Lips

Get Down On It (Extended Remix)/Kool & The Gang

Vaalirahakynnitys/ Nieminen & Litmanen feat Paleface

One Drop/Bob Marley & The Wailers

Echohäuser/The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Fur Immer Solidarity/United Sound Crew

Oblivious/Aztec Camera

Come On Eileen/Dexy’s Midnight Runners

The Bottle/Gil Scott Heron

It’s So Nice To Be Rich/Agnetha Fältskog

Demokratie/DieÄrzte

Working Class Hero/John Lennon

Wozu Sind Kriede Da/Udo Lindenberg

Naked City/Kiss

Se On Lama Nyt/Kanuuna

Kärpästen Juhlat/Mikko Saarela

Anikana-O/Kongas

Big In Japan/Alphaville

Take On Me/A-Ha

Last Train To London/Electric Light Orchestra

Berlin/Nina Hagen

Jetzt Ist Der Moment/#56 Boys

Tour De France (Remix)/Kraftwerk

Stop The War Now/Edwin Starr

Suspicious Minds/Candi Staton

My Girl/The Temptations

Hey Paula/Paula And Paula

Dolce Vita Mix/Various Artists

Don’t Go/Yazoo

Imagine/John Lennon

New Year Eve Party Playlist 2025/2026 Nyårsaftonens spellista

Time to end another year and look forward to the next. 2025 has, frankly, been a sh-t year for the world and in Finland - but a year of fast and interesting transformations - and moves - for me. I hope for a little more time to chill in 2026, and, hopefully, much more peaceful times in the world, more democracy, justice, care for others and freedom for all. No all in new year party this year, just softly chillin’, but of course a new year party playlist!

Det är dags att avsluta ännu ett år och se framåt mot ett nytt. Ärligt talat, 2025 har varit ett sk-t år för världen och i Finland - men ett år med snabba och intressanta förändringar och flyttningar för mig. Jag hoppas få lite mera tid att chilla 2026 och, förhoppningsvis, en mycket mera fridfull tid för världen, mera demokrati, rättvisa, omtanke om andra och frihet för alla. Ingen all in nyårsfest i år, chillar soft istället, men en nyårs-party playlist blir det ändå, såklart!

Peace on Earth! Frid på jorden!

Here is my New Year Eve Party Playlist 2025/2026. Preferably to be played from approx 21 to (almost) 00 turn of the year 2025/2026 (with links for you to videos for almost all songs). Or anytime you like.

Här är min nyårs-spellista, bäst från ca 21 fram till tolvslaget 2025/2026. Eller närhelst du känner för det.

Happy New Year/Gott Nytt År/Gutes Neues Jahr/Onnellista Uutta Vuotta!!!🎉

NEW YEAR EVE PARTY PLAYLIST 2025/2026

Intro: Fridays For Future/Rebekka Karijord & Jon Ekstrand

Welcome To The Show/Laleh

Endzeitstimmung (Live 2024)/Die Fantastischen Vier 

Wir Kommen In Frieden/Feine Sahne Fischfilet

Ilonalle (Sydänlupaus)/Heikki Kuula

Super Sense Block Party (Live Medley) (12”)/Die Fantastischen Vier

Hamburg City (MC)/La Boom

Nie Wieder Krieg/Thomas D

Overcome (The Recapitulation)/RX Bandits

Wann Strahlst Dub/Erobique & Palminger

Radioaktivität (Francois Kevorkian Remix) (12”)/Kraftwerk

Wagging Tongue (Live Mexico City)/Depeche Mode

Hamburg Calling (Live Brotstock 2023)/Fettes Brot

Passing Strangers (Set Movements Live)/Ultravox

Im Arsch (PFL RMX)/Jan Delay

Geboren Um Zu Sterben/Tristan Brusch

Waiting For The Great Leap Forwards (Live)/Billy Bragg

Reeperbahn Dub/Udo Lindenberg feat Jan Delay

The Grosser (Live Brotstock 2023)/Fettes Brot

Nordisch By Nature (Live Brotstock 2023)/Fettes Brot

Come And Get Your Love/Redbone

Pizza (Live 2025)/Antilopen Gang

Super Sense Block Party (Live Medley) (12”B)/Die Fantastischen Vier

Arbeitstitel: Aller Achtung (Instrumental)/Eins Zwo

 

#3/6 Jahre Institut

Kirchturmkandidaten (Live mit der WDF Big Band)/Jan Delay

When The President Talks To God/Bright Eyes

Mach Die Augen Auf/Nena

All You Fascists Bound To Lose/Ghetto 84

Beate Zschäpe Hört U2 (Live 2025)/Antilopen Gang

Where Is The Love?/The Black Eyed Peas

Love (Eimsbusch Dynamite Deluxe RMX)/Patrice

Jein (Live Brotstock 2023)/Fettes Brot

Arbeitstitel: Aller Achtung/Eins Zwo

Liebes Logbuch (Instrumental)/Eins Zwo

Flashbacks (CD-EP)/Niemals

Stay (Live 1979 No Nukes)/Springsteen E Street Band

Everything Counts (Live Mexico City)/Depeche Mode

Zusammen (2022)/Die Fantastischen Vier feat. Clueso

 Lev Nu Dö Sen/Miss Li

Take On Me (The Final Concert Live)/A-Ha

I hear wonderful (live) things 2025!

 (I see) Wonderful things, said Howard Carter when he found the grave vault of Tutankhamun. A travesty of that here and now could be: I hear wonderful things 2025. And many of them on newly released live albums.

Brotstock, a tripple live album by Hamburg hiphop legends Fettes Brot, is out this year. A great celebration of the unfortunately final Fettes Brot concert, from 2023. RSD 3LP vinyl version is on tripple-colour vinyl, cool. A magnificent live album, with all hits, and then some,  included. Jeun is a fine, groovy start and one of my favorite segments is Hamburg Calling followed by a magnificent The Grosser, that really makes your body move. And of course Nordisch by Nature does so too, but the vibe is great throughout. The album title is also wonderfully fun, so tongue-in-cheek. A beautiful last statement from the ”Fat Breads”. And bonus info: König Boris has also released a book ” FC St. Pauli - eine Liebeserklärung”, in 2025. Early bird signed copies could be bought at FC StP club shop on Reeperbahn. So Cool.

And who can neglect Depeche Mode? M and Memento Mori: Mexico City (live) were both very high on my waiting list this Fall, both the 4LP version and the 2 Blueray + 2 CD version. One of the most important bands on my radar, and they didn’t disappoint this December. M is the movie version, and the only regret is that they could have played out more widely with the Mexican theme, perhaps prolonged the film with 15-20 mins to get some more depth into the material between the live scores. Fine as it is, it could have been even better. Especially as the whole concert material is  also available as such in the same package, and a great concert film it is too. 

Yes, the vinyls and cd:s are also stunning, great new songs performed live and some very cool and refreshed versions of classics like Everything counts. However, it’s a bummer and clear disappointment that critical songs Where’s The Revolution and Going Backwards are now left out of the setlist. Why is that? They are even more relevant today than when Spirit came out, especially Going Backwards. Showstarter My Cosmos Is Mine was a surprise (on the tour), but opened strongly for an overall nice and refreshed DM concert experience. Too sad that the concert that I had tickets to on the Memento Mori tour was cancelled, but instead a free DM club night was organized for fans and that surprisingly turned out to be one of the best club night experiences ever. Danced for five hours straight. And had so fun that I nearly didn’t mind that the concert was cancelled. DM fans form a great community. 

Now, on formally released live album and film(s) from the tour, we hear and see DM, currently only a (power)duo, but well-assisted on stage by two great veteran live band members, sounding amazingly fresh. 

A must, no less.

A third new live album out now is Antilopen Gang and their Anti Alles Aktion Live. Interestingly, their controversial political hit Oktober in Europa is not included, perhaps not performed during this tour. Nevermind, it is still a great live hiphop/punk album. Antilopen Gang has combined these genres successfully on studio albums and now show how great the combination also works live. Pizza and Beate Zschäpe Hört U2, Weg Von Hier and Muttertag, are among the impressive highlights, before it all ends in an intense live finale, Anti Alles Aktion. 

Potent, powerful and highly entertaining.

A wonderful catalogue live find from 2021 must also be mentioned. Springsteen E Street Band, performing live on legendary No Nukes festival 1979. I’ve had it on vinyl for years, but this Fall bought the Blueray/2CD version that first came out in 2021. And this is just mindblowing stuff. Bruce and the band are exceptional live artists, personally I have seen them live on three occasions, all superb performances. But this really is exceptional stuff. This is right up there with the very best. Before the megastardom of Born in the USA, when Bruce was big but not yet the biggest rock star, the band already was  among the very best. Frenetic energy, strong showman- and musicianships and the pure happiness of performing live results in a stellar set. And all for a good cause too. My personal favorite moment is when they invite Jackson Browne & co on stage for a spectacular version of Stay. 

Yes, please, stay, just a little bit longer! 

Well worth hearing - and seeing.

Many music pearls for this Christmastime were live (on album), but not all.

A most certain coming classic is the impressive compilation album King Size Dub Hamburg. And already a rarity. Both the LP and the double-cd are limited to 500 ex. Prices will rise. Not only because it is limited, but because it is sooo good. Many will want this album. Many will need this album.  Even more will not yet know that they would want and need this album. Brilliant. Magnificent stuff, and lots of it. Vinyl version is only a single album, not covering more than half of CD one. That’s why I opted for the double CD version, as many of the best dubs are not on the vinyl. Had it been a 2 LP set, I would have bought that. But, in retrospect, I probably still should have bought the single vinyl LP too. 

Tracks from this compilation, and these live albums, will most likely be heard on my playlists in 2026.

 

Danke, Hamburg, Thank you

 Leaving Hamburg just before Christmas leaves me with a Finnish feeling in my soul, you know, a vibe and song that is strong on minor chords. Sad, even sentimental, but melancholy with a Northern twist.

My home away from home, I use to say.

Hansestadt Hamburg. 

An open, friendly, supercool, liberal-minded and cultural city, a musical metropolis. 

Really, what’s there not to like.

Last weekend in Hamburg; Gluhwein with friends at the Christmas market on Allendeplatz in Rotherbaum and  fondue dinner in Ottensen with closest friends, friendly abschied until next time by great staff at cozy, supercool plattenläden. Wonderful kinos, shops and, especially, the people. Goodbye Hamburg, for this visit, I miss you already. 

Had also time to visit Berlin and Bremen, including cool districts Neukölln and Viertel. As always worthwhile to visit record store Black Plastic in Bremen and check out a cool pop-up art exhibition, this time near Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin. And of course highly interesting to walk the streets of Neukölln.

I bring with me from Hamburg some great music, cool clothes and inspiring books and journals. As well as new knowledge on learning and urban culture and transformation. Like on every other visit. And, as always, a part of my heart is left in HSH, HanseStadt Hamburg. 

Bis nächtes mal!

To all my friends - here, there and everywhere!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Frohe Weinachten und ein Gutes Neues Jahr!

God Jul och Gott Nytt År!

Hyvää Joulua ja Onnellista Uutta Vuotta!

Hiphop is the new punk

 Hiphop is the new punk.

Just when most of rock, pop, and yes, even punk, seems to have lost momentum and mostly resemble money-machines without substance, we have to rely on hiphop for some punk attitude. Social commentary is otherwise rare and mostly something that only 60+ artists seem to think about, so, where are you, young rebels, rebellious youth? The world is crumbling and you are silent? 

At least hiphop continues the important vital function as critical voices for democracy, diversity and social justice. They report from run-down neighborhoods and districts where mainstream media only visits to demonize, if ever. Hiphop reports from these districts, they are the news channels from within, and from everywhere.

Bands like Antilopen Gang even produce double-albums with hiphop and punk. An important band, Antilopen Gang.

Bands like Waving The Guns, in turn, are hiphop through and through, but also fabulously and totally punk in attitude. 

Yes, Waving The Guns. 

What can you say? 

Brilliant hiphop. Voices from the underground, and from the unheard, forgotten masses.

Have all their albums. Great on vinyl. The cd-versions are also superb value for money, for example double cd with old WTG albums Eine Hand Bricht Die Andere and Totschlagargumente. For 9,90 €! 

Wish they would publish their raps (texts) with the albums. This is serious, strong stuff, delivered with attitude and force, set to catching grooves and beats.

Feine Sahne Fischfilets performed live in Hamburg in December, a Rostock punk band with a great trumpet soloist. The trumpetist also did a fine hiphop rap during the set. Another way to celebrate the connection. And everybody cheered.

Hiphop is the new punk.

Eins Zwo Delay and what else? - och vad mera?

 Eins Zwo is a legendary hiphop-duo from Hamburg. I bought their great debut album on cd earlier, but even cooler is the fantastic double-vinyl with instrumental tracks of the record. Have only seen it once in store, in Groove City, where I listened to it, and, wow, it is so insanely good that I bought it. Expensive, yes, but so fu—in great. Full party mood, grooves that makes you move, and keep on moving, amazing stuff. Also bought their debut maxi, Sport, but on cd, also good, of course.

There just is something about Hamburg and hiphop. Also found Jan Delay’s Mercedes-Dance box set (2 CD + DVD). The fine original album I have in both LP and CD-version, and even an limited two-disc version, but this one includes many fine remixes and live tracks. Like Christmas candy for me.

And, there is also something about Stuttgart and hiphop. Especially Fanta4, Die Fantastischen Vier, genre giants and just great music. Also on my last German trip, to Hamburg, I bought a Fanta-album, this time triple-vinyl Heimspiel, a fine live album from their 20th anniversary concert (2009). They also have a new live album put out in 2025, Long Player on tour, which I have on cd and dvd, and it too is worth to have on vinyl.

And, if you have the chance, the December number of Musikexpress (1/26) includes a fine cd, Mixtape 2025, that is almost worth the price in itself, eight strong tracks from the year that is soon ending.

Enjoy.

Eins Zwo, legendarisk hiphop-duo från Hamburg. Nämnde jag köpt deras första album på cd, suveränt. Men ännu häftigare är nog dubbel-vinylen med instrumentalspåren av samma album. Har sett det exakt en gång, på Groove City. Och lyssnat i butiken, så sjukt bra, så jag köpte det. Dyrt, ja, men helt fantastiskt, otroligt bra. Fullt drag, fullt party, lyfter, lyfter. Blev också inköp av deras debut-maxi, men på cd, Sport. Bra, förstås.

Det är något med Hamburg och hiphop. Köpte också Jan Delays Mercedes-Dance boxversion (2 CD + DVD), normalalbumet har jag förstås från förr på både vinyl och cd och som en limiterad 2-disc version. Grymt album. Boxen bjuder på en hel del fina remixar och livespår. Det är julgodis för mig.

Det är nåt med Stuttgart och hiphop också. Fanta4, Die Fantastischen Vier, är genrens giganter. Har blivit ett Fanta-album (fina trippel-vinylen Heimspiel, som starkt dokumenterar bandets 20-årsjubileum 2009) också på senaste Tysklandsresan till Hamburg.

Och får ni chans att köpa december-numret av tyska Musikexpress (01/26) så kan det nästan vara värt det bara för medföljande fina cd:n Mixtape 2025. Åtta sköna spår från året som snart är till ända.

Njut.