Luomo

you reviewed it and got to keep a copy

yeah but it's actually out now too

3 October I think.

Such is the state of my cred with record labels slash "the industry" that I have to listen to it on stream for review purposes.

the release date i was told was 18 sep?

having to stream albums sucks, i refuse to review based on them unless there's no other option

pushed back

Re the album itself, I expect I'll end up liking it less than Convivial (and Vocalcity and The Present Lover) but a lot more than Paper Tigers.

From what I've heard of it, if Convivial was Uusitalo with vocals Plus is Sistol with vocals.

From memory Lex our favourite tracks on Convivial were rather different and I suspect that I can see in that the basis of our convergence w/r/t the new one.

Really Don't Mind is still better than anything on The Present Lover. Albeit just.

eh

better than "What Good"??! o_O

feel like he lost all his finesse with the vocal cut-up shtick on Paper Tigers, "Really Don't Mind" included.

I almost wish I hadn't read this, I may take a pill and lie in bed until October when I can maybe get my hands on it!

What Good is only the fourth or fifth best track on The Present Lover (which is why TPL is still a good chunk better than PT).

RIP Luomo
2000 AD - 2000 AD

It seems weird to say, but what the best material on the new album (e.g. "Make My Day", "Happy Strong") puts me in mind of is Michael Mayer crossed with Carl Craig.

What's definitely gone is the shimmer that's basically been Luomo's calling card since "The Present Lover".

From memory Lex our favourite tracks on Convivial were rather different and I suspect that I can see in that the basis of our convergence w/r/t the new one.

hmm, i'm not sure - i really liked convivial overall, but i'm not really after another vocal-led pop album from luomo per se, but it's the lack of shimmer and finesse you and lou correctly identify that makes it so whatever to me. i mean, there's stuff to enjoy about it, certainly, i gave it 3/5 - "how you look" is a bit H&LA and it's a good look, love the rattling percussion on "good stuff". it's just, you know...your typical three-star album. nice moments but not special.

So far my barrier to Plus is the vocals. On Convivial and PL especially the vocals were so distinctive, it made them a real highlight. I'm only streaming this at the moment so I'll wait judgment until I've purchased a CD copy. It took me a few listens to appreciate Convivial anyway.

The vocals definitely are basically just nominal structures around which to weave the grooves, which the exceptions of "Form In Void" and "Immaculate Motive" perhaps. Can't really see disliking them per se, but certainly they're not in any way haunting/charming like TPL's vocals often were. OTOH, at least they don't get in the way like they so often do on the Art Department album (which in some senses is a good point of comparison for this album).

As I said originally I can definitely get people saying "this has abandoned too many of the things that made me love Luomo to really adore it." It's really just good luck (for me) that Sasu has shifted towards another aesthetic (hyper-dense percussive layered house) that I feel very close to. If someone on Get Physical or Poker Flat or Kompakt had released this album at any time in the last 10 years I'm thinking it would have been top ten of that year for me.

I feel "Good Stuff" is the weakest track actually - 9 minutes spent barely building on its opening premise. Whereas look how much ground "Form In Void" covers in 4.

You really love hyperrhythmic percussive ish don't you Tim! Is this a thing that comes out of being a jungle fan I wonder - I was too young for any of that and it's not something I especially prioritise over texture and groove.

I thought the vox were kinda dull depeche modeisms tbh, not actively annoying a la art dept tho.

You really love hyperrhythmic percussive ish don't you Tim! Is this a thing that comes out of being a jungle fan I wonder - I was too young for any of that and it's not something I especially prioritise over texture and groove.

Absolutely, though I got into jungle and uk garage simultaneously and think the comes from that combination more than either alone.

I definitely think this album devalues texture (at least compared to his prior best work) as part of beefing up the role of rhythm - esp. vis a vis The Present Lover which is maybe its polar opposite, quite simple rhythms but absurdly swollen textures. Paper Tigers, of course, was basically Luomo indulging in luomoesque textures but with no real purpose or function (and his weakest rhythms).

("groove" is more the unifyer of how all these things plus melody move your body)

The part of Convivial that I feel the best tracks here (especialy "Make My Day" the second half of which is just insane, esp. turned up to ear-bleed volumes) pick up on is the second half of "Slow Dying Places", that sense of endlessly spiralling upward intensity.

What I would have loved but sadly isn't here is more of the vaguely Carribean snare action from "Gets Along Fine".

well excited about the new one

i don't know how you guys can absorb this music so fast. i'm still getting to grips with the new ones. didn't like either of them on first listen.

streaming here http://3voor12.vpro.nl/speler/luisterpaal/45128519#luisterpaal.45128519

I definitely think this album devalues texture (at least compared to his prior best work) as part of beefing up the role of rhythm - esp. vis a vis The Present Lover which is maybe its polar opposite, quite simple rhythms but absurdly swollen textures.

It's not either/or though is it? A lot of the textural interest on Vocalcity comes from changing and evolving rhythms brushing up against each other in different ways.

The second half of Slow Dying Places is my favourite part of Convivial, give or take an Apparat collaboration here or there, but actually I think this album plays it quite straight rhythmically in comparison. Admittedly there might be some elements than aren't coming through in the stream.

But it's really good nonetheless, and surprisingly ravey and bleepy for Luomo. The Depeche Mode-style vocals work, I think, because there's a slightly colder, more warehousey feel to the whole sound.

But yeah, to an extent this sounds like it could have been made by anyone. But if anyone had made it, it would still be really good, so...

Also for all the talk of shimmer and finesse and texture what's rarely commented upon with Luomo is how rich and satisfying his basslines are and those are all present and correct.

Yeah it's not either / or, and obv. by any other producer's standards Plus would seem texturally gorgeous, voluptuous et. al. These are all matters of degree.

It's not so much that Plus is rhythmically more dense or intricate than before, rather that because the grooves are more targeted at the dancefloor the effect is different - e.g. the way the groove seems to shudder with built-up friction on "Happy Strong".

"Make My Day" is like "Slow Dying Places" with all the clicks and whirs and jitter riffs replaced with conventional kicks, snares, handclaps etc. I can see why this would disappoint some but I think it works tremendously.

^ Except I think Make My Day is more gradual in its transition. Honestly I'm a bit relieved, I wasn't that impressed with the three that had been around on soundcloud for ages - Good Stuff, Happy Strong & Spy - but they're the weakest tracks on the album. How You Look, Make My Day & Form In Void are the repeaters for me at the moment.

And yeah, Moodmusic is the perfect label for this to be on. We can only hope for a DJ Naughty remix (circa 2004-5).

The drums are definitely bigger on Plus than on any other Luomo that I've heard.

surprised no one is talking about Plus. "Good Stuff" is on repeat here.

I talked about it a lot upthread. But "Good Stuff" is def. my least favourite track.

Need to spend some time with Plus but I'm to afraid this guy is diminishing returns.

to _ too

I should learn English at some point.

http://i53.tinypic.com/rlceas.jpg

Diminishing returns? Vocal City > Convivial = The Present Lover > Plus >> Paper Tigers. No diminish returns, yet. Also Plus, Sistol, and to a lesser degree the Quartet show Sasu having fun with new ideas - even if the execution isn't always quite there.

Latoma EP on echocord is pretty great.

I enjoy "Plus" a lot, "Spy" especially. Jedmond OTM.

i'd put plus over convivial and TPL over both. vocal city on top, of course.

enjoying this remix:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNbBd-rTjF8&feature=related

Wow, is this good. I can't believe it came out of the Arctic Circle. I might finally break down and get the import!

I gave up and ordered the CD. I am so excited it is coming later this week. My new speakers are hooked up and ready. Listening to the singles NONSTOP. This is the real sh--!

Tim F. is right, it has a very dense sound, it's kind of weird. Certainly worth your time, but don't expect to be blown away at first. Holding out hope that it gets better.

Want to make one of those "brain lighting up" meme images but with "Tessio" --> "Synkro" --> "The Right Wing".

the devil's advocate in me adds a fourth image that's just the cover image of The Present Lover

this is where I admit I own almost all the vladislav delay releases on physical media

Vocalcity is still one of my go-to albums to throw on when I'm tired and not quite ready to fall asleep in bed. just let my mind wander

sometimes i have black coffee and i think "should i also have feta cheese?"

a contrasting palate palette