Through a series of singles and video’s released in 2020 the self-proclaimed synth duo of Iiti Yli-Harja (Pintandwefall) and Sarra Keppola – who go under the band name of RULES – finally get to unveil their self titled debut album which arrives on the 21st August via Helsinki based label Soliti.

Of the literate tale heavy  release RULES explain; “The album evokes a multitude of different worlds, the tracks journeying from ancient Greece through icy depths of the polar circle to the moors of Northern England. The songs have an irresistible pop quality to them, and are all based on characters from world literature (apart from one that is from the film Suspiria, can you spot it?) There’s also a delicious Nirvana-cover in the mix. We hope you will enjoy listening to these songs as much as we have enjoyed creating them!”

Of that Nirvana cover, RULES share a new video for ‘Lou​n​ge Act’, the band telling us “As an old Nirvana fan Iiti wanted to honor the band by covering one of her favourites. Lounge Act has lyrics that fit thematically well for the album, and yielded the name of our band, too!”

Credits:

Directed by Anna-Mari Nousiainen Thank you: Katja Iljana Kasper Kamppuri Mikael Malila

Oskari Onninen reviewed the album for Image “On a scale of domestic debut releases, RULES’ album is irresistible”

Antti Lähde comments on the album for Kulttuuritoimitus  “RULES is a duo formed by Iiti Yli-Harja (Pintandwefall) and Sarra Keppola , whose electronic pop is timeless, melodic and admirably compelling. Equipped with an irresistibly connecting chorus, Wendy is one of the most stunning domestic songs of the year”

Jukka Hätinen interviewed RULES at Rumba – watch the half an hour clip 

Scott Galloway at When You Motor Away reviewed the album “The vocals are sublime, and the melodies sound like favorite songs from the ’80s you have been trying to remember but find they are just beyond your memory. The lyrical content is literary and absorbing, and the production is sublimely layered. It is no surprise that all of this makes this set of songs a perfect debut. “

RULES interviewed by YleX

David Bentley for Nordic Music Review  commented on ‘Kafuku’s Wife’ “RULES were able to catch a Middle Eastern flavour even with synths and the structure of that first half reminds me very much of Highasakite’s ‘Iran’ with the supporting vocal not dissimilar from Ingrid Helene Håvik’s Bulgarian throat singing on that track.”

June  from Alice & June writes of ‘Kafuku’s Wife’ “Feelings overlayed with melancholy reminds somewhat of Chromatics and Beach House. When OskariHalsti is in charge of the production, the overall outcome is groomed, international and interesting.”

Aleksi Pahkala told us of  ‘Kafuku’s Wife’ at Päivän Biisit “Rarely does Finland produce such  cool and smart electronic indie!”

Nathan Lankford  for Austin Town Hall  writes of  ‘Wendy’ “I like how the shimmering synth work sort of hangs back; it definitely swells in your ears, but it doesn’t get int he way for the performance of Iiti Yli-Harja’s vocal performance. She comes in with a hint of 80s pop nostalgia coming across like a more rehearsed Tiffany; there’s just this extreme frivolity in her voice, and I can’t pull away” 

Even The Stars (Track of The Day)  “Wendy takes up the story of J M Barrie’s female protagonist from Peter Pan. It does so with a shining glimmering synth-led track underneath it that feels irresistibly poppy.”

Finally – RULES invite you to win some merch via their instagram