(01.01.07) Hans Peter Lindstrøm is one of the true anomalies of the electro world.
Electro artists usually live, eat, drink and breathe electronic music.
Growing up electro artists may listen to punk, rock, or even folk, but have
generally had some contact with dance music, be it through clubs or radio
stations. Lindstrøm, despite more than likely having heard some form of
electronic music in his time, did not grow up with Kraftwerk or Neu.
Lindstrøm, born in the Norwegian oil town of Stravanger, was raised on
country and western music. He never really listened to dance music until a
few years ago when he decided to turn his hand to it. Lindstrøm’s background
stems from rock and gospel, not Aphex Twin and Carl Craig. But, this
Scandanavian is responsible for creating some of the electro sounds of the
past years. Record stores, radio station and electro lovers have been
talking about this man for some time now. Via his own label, Feedelity,
Lindstrøm has been getting his funky, laid back space disco sound to the
electro populace through the airwaves, webwaves and sinewaves. Now,
Lindstrøm’s first full length album, featuring previously vinyl only
material, has been unleashed: It’s a Feedelity Affair.
Lindstrøm, a remixer of Franz Ferdinand and LCD Soundsystem, has a unique
electro style. The album opens with “Fast & Delirious,” a space disco voyage
of steller synth lines and lost bass lines which develops into a full
throttle intergalactic odyssey. Light racing keys shower across the audio
skyline before a belt of analog and guitar solos lands to break the track
beautifully. “Limitations” struts in after the interplanetary “Fast &
Delirious.” “Limitations” is more disco centered than its predecessor, a
funky, light electro number with futuristic undertones. The vocals of
Isabelle Sandoo float through the next track: “Music (in my Mind).” A sleek,
sexy, synthy track in which Sandoo’s sensual lyrics are an essential
component. It is a track that exemplifies the versatility of Lindstrøm’s
sound. “Cane it for the Original Whities” is directed by echoing basslines,
guitar rifts and delicate keys and beats, all elements played from the
original instruments by Lindstrøm himself. Nearing the track’s completion
Lindstrøm breaks out into a full on electric guitar solo, unveiling the
Scandinavian’s rock roots. Excellent track.
“There’s A Drink In My Bedroom And I Need A Hot Lady” is the longest work on
the album, a squelching electro odyssey of new wave disco stylings. An easy
going track of basslines, guitars and synth-line shuffles create an
atmospheric, lounge like electro track. Lindstrøm unleashes his synth and
creativity on the work just over half way through, as the Norwegian shifts
the beats and rhythms whilst pushing melodies back onto themselves. “Further
Into The Future” follows in the same suit as “There’s A Drink In My Bedroom
And I Need A Hot Lady,” introduced with low, moody tones. It’s a piece that
starts slowly, with more organic instruments being at the forefront, but
which soon develops into a synth laden space disco epic. The Stravanger man
runs snapping chords against one another, racing his melodies to create a
high energy number. A title that follows closely to its forerunner, “I Feel
Space” is one of the stand out tracks of the album. The track opens with
reverberating synths, establishing a myriad of electronic shifts and turns.
Sharp beats intersect the expanse to dilute the almost ambient tones and
centre the track with an up-beat electro feel. Lindstrøm breaks the track
with a medley of old school drum machine beats before he splits the piece
leaving only the backdrop. Warm beads of sound spin through the speakers
until this electro newcomer returns beats and synths to bring the track to
its original state. Amazing track.
“Arp She Said” is another laid back, lounge number. A sexy track that rolls
like an exhalation of rich tobacco smoke, light strings and analog chords
swim through this rich, textured track. “Gentle As A Giant” enters with some
old school house tribal beats whilst haunting whisps plays in the backdrop.
A slight shift in the beats mid way through the track allows Lindstrøm to
introduce some electric guitar. It’s a track that boarders on the ambient,
along the cusp of laid back electro and esoteric electronica. Space disco
shuffles land back in with “Another Station.” The Todd Terje remix of the
track recently featured on Serge’s excellent Vintage Future. It’s a light,
cascading electro number with a true futuristic edge. A track of perplexing
synth-lines that rise and surge across a bed of crisp beats. “The
Contemporary Fix” concludes the album. A simple, addictive synth-line opens
the track whilst Lindstrøm layers beats, chords, shifts and breaks across
the analog foundation. An electro piece that ends the album fantastically.
Lindstrøm, with It’s a Feedelity Affair, has managed to create a
multifaceted electro album. Unlike some electro artists, Lindstrøm has not
just re-hashed the same beats and chords throughout his album. Instead, the
Norwegian has employed a host of instruments, ranging from the traditional
to the contemporary, to produce a sound that is fresh yet familiar. It’s a
Feedelity Affair is an album that not only justifies the hype that has
surrounded Lindstrøm, but illustrates how flexible electro can be.
Lindstrøm, through ambient tones, funked up space disco, and classic synth
play has created an album of outstanding electro music.
It’s A Feedelity Affair is out now on Smalltown Supersound. Buy It At Amazon.com
