Mika Vainio "Ydin" Wavetrap WAV01 1999 (74:00)
Energia (9:25)
Odotusten Mukaisesti (:48)
Konsti (3:34)
Siirtymä (3:40)
Kadonnut (6:16)
Marras (11:38)
F.B. (7:02)
Vain (4:55)
Vaihtuja (12:10)
No. 10 (1:34)
Ydin (12:56)
all tracks by Mika Vainio 98/99.
Mika Vainio is 1/2 of Finland's analogue enthusiast duo Pan Sonic. "Ydin" (meaning "Core") is the debut release from the Wavetrap label and Vainio's 2nd disc under his own name. The disc begins rather noisily with the 9+ minutes of steady electrical buzzing that "Energia" provides. This is a somewhat deceiving introduction as the majority of the remaining 74 minutes is minimal and ominous, with a few exceptions. "Siirtymä", "Marras", "F.B.", "Vaihtuja" and "Ydin" exemplify the less abrasive side of the album with quiet, continual drones and hums, most of which are in the low rumbling register. "Konsti" and "Marras" are the only tracks that supply any sort of "rhythm": the former with a crunchy thumping and the latter with a subtle, static-y tapping pulse. "Kadonnut" is also drone based but interrupts the quiet with what sounds like the sudden closing of a heavy steel door at the beginning and end of the track. "Vain" is also quiet, but in a different way ... a single delayed fuzzy tone slowly gains speed throughout the track. And just in case the 12+ minutes each of "Vaihtuja" and "Ydin" lull you to sleep, "No. 10" briefly interrupts with unapologetically abrasive, disorienting shards of distorted sound that carve through the stereo field. Yikes! Quite the listening experience, start to finish. Much of this type of music (see also the vaguely similar Tactile "Borderlands") seems to emote the same desolate feeling, though I'm not really sure that was Vainio's objective. I enjoy it from a technical and emotive perspective. The artwork and packaging are really first class: a custom digipack with a beautiful front cover drawing by Leif Elggren (there is also a limited edition of 100 copies which contain additional numbered and signed hand-made prints of a drawing by Elggren). Check out the solo work of the other 1/2 of Pan Sonic, Ilpo Vaisanen (see "20' to 2000" series - February) and look for Vainio's installment in the series this October. The 2nd Wavetrap release will be from Screwtape (Drew McDowall of Coil) later this year/early next year ...
Where did I get this cd? - mail order via Riouxs Records.