On their debut, Finnish duo Shine 2009 combine cool indifference with an easy sophistication to create four sublime tracks. All infused with their contemporary take on Scandinavian sound, this is pop music to soothe the darkest corners of your mind.

Opener "Naturally" is a rallying cry – "Come, gather all around / It's an invitation but not for all." "Higher" is tinged with their signature melancholia, and lead single "New Rules" suggests not so much a utopian ideal as a thinly veiled threat.

United under a shared vision and with an unrelenting eye for detail, Mikko Pykäri and Sami Suova work in tandem to create evocative, timeless and self-assured art.

Associates also holds the distinction of being the first release on Cascine.