Koria Kitten Riot is the project of Helsinki, Finland-based singer and guitarist Antti Reikko. He combines indie-pop, acoustic folk, and ambient music into a style that sounds like something from the mid-’00s with a touch of maximalist indie-rock thrown in for good measure.
He recorded Rich Men Poor Men Good Men himself in his bedroom, using GarageBand and a Behringer mixer connected to his MacBook. Reikko also uses mandolin, glockenspiel, and harmonica on the album.
The songs on the LP are full of detail and ambitious instrumentation. They put together the intimacy of Reikko’s songwritership with grandiose arrangements in a way that reminds us of Bright Eyes.
Especially on the track “An Anthem From The 80’s,” Reikko’s vocals are a treat. It’s an intimate song about a long-gone era, but with lyrics that still make you smile.
The music on Rich Men Poor Men Good Men is a pleasure to listen to and will leave you with an appreciation for indie-pop that’s not easily found on the radio. There’s a little bit of everything in this debut from Antti Reikko, including piano, acoustic guitar, glockenspiel, mandolin, and harmonica. Some tracks are more melodic than others, but they all feature a great sense of ambition and a lot of detail. It’s a wonderful debut from a surprisingly underrated musician. Give it a go, you’ll be glad you did!