Bola ‎– Fyuti

When listening to "O Chuma" I actually started giggling like a mad clown, and I'm not kidding. It was quite a scary track.

Bola's second album, FYUTI, treads much of the same area as SOUP did, though with some distinct differences. First, the melancholy strain that ran through the first album is even more evident here, as on the opener "Vertiphon," which feels like midnight on a lonely planet. Second, there's more of a hip-hop influence, as the modulated vocals which almost take center stage of "Pae Paoe" show. These two influences oftentimes come together in fascinating ways, as on "Veronex Cypher," which is the sound of a funk machine's heartbreak. "Magnasushi" takes it one step further, with some harsher industrial edges to the sadness. (In comparison, the melody on "Soleiele" is relatively jolly.) But Bola has other tricks up his sleeve as well: "Shoob,e" has a shuddering warmth to it, while "O, Chuma" delves into its scuppering rhythm. "Horizophon" seems headed nowhere, at first, but then backs into its lovely melody quite deliberately, and the final track, "VM8," is beatless, a track that slips out into the black void of space. A mournful success for Bola.

Probably Bola's weakest offering. Coming on the heels of the landmark album Soup, this album was a major disappointment for me. Whereas Soup was high art in not only its varied moods and spectacular soundscapes, Fyuti struggles to get out from underneath its crushing depression. Now, there is a difference between "dark" and "depressing." Subsequent albums showed that Fitton could effectively do the former without the latter. But Fyuti takes the most downtrodden moments of Soup and recycles them to their logical extremes. Nowhere is this more evident than on the skip-worthy "Veronex Cypher."

Making matters worse is that there are elements introduced into some tracks that ruin them. "Vertiphon" has this awesome two-note bassline that's later wrecked by an annoying, unnecessary bleep-bloop melody. This is uncharacteristic of Fitton's work. Usually he understands that less is more; his music is great because it's usually uncluttered.

The one track here that works is "Soleiele," an absolute undeniable classic. This is darkness with no depression, and is, in fact, rather uplifting. Fitton's gift for melody shines so beautifully on this track. The percussion is just so perfect; it's an amazing robotic, mechanical structure that in hindsight represents the dying gasps of the golden age of IDM. But what an elegy!

So 'Pae Paoe' is basically just a remix of Rob Dougan's 'Clubbed to Death' (1995, many remixes/versions, years later featured on The Matrix soundtrack), but I don't see any credits for it anywhere(?)

Fyuti is slick, silky and mellow. Bola demonstrates a knack for infusing his minimal downtempo tracks with insistent bass lines, sobering harmonies, and sparse, oscillating electro textures. His crisp rhythms and organic computer utterances are a signature element in his work, as are his occasional neo-retro vocal treatments.

Fyuti is accomplished with skill and candor; one never senses that one is far from the arc that Bola carefully traces from track to track. The music is reflective and thoughtful, expressed in a gratifyingly mature style.

Fans of Sweden's Mosaik, Miles Tilmann and Loscil will find much to feast on here.

The first Bola album I heard, and still my favorite. I purchased both 'Fyuti' and 'Soup' at the same time and I popped in 'Fyuti' first and instantly fell in love with Darryl Fitton's sound. Fyuti's layered synth melodies, mixed with DSP electro beats create the perfect vibe for a chill-session. Simple enough to let you drift away but at the same time still enough complexity to keep you in a deep state of thought as you listen.

Bola’s sophomore album for SKAM records, Fyuti, isn’t as classic as Soup but it has its stronger points and its weaknesses. The introduction is just as wonderful and similar as Soup’s “Glink” with its striking ambience and smooth bassline. Shoob, e and VM8 are standout tracks but the album seems to slack off toward its closing. But when it comes to Pae Paoe Fyuti is famous. A mixture of strange garbled processed lyrics and Bola’s signature sound. Archetypal SKAM recording!

While not as fresh sounding as SOUP, this album is nonetheless enjoyable. I can't honestly hum any of the songs, nor remember them much beyond when I am listening to them, which is unfortunate because There are tracks on Mauver and Soup that both resonate much more. The reliance on mundane synth patches to carry much of the melody is what hurts this record, while the abstract sounds surrounding the melodies are great.

If '4.5' were an option on the rating scale, I would have given it. This is a darn good album...a huge progression from his last album, which was pretty good in it's own right. If you are a Boards of Canada fan, I would highly recommend Fyuti. It has the same moody, almost spiritual feel to it without falling into the cheeseball trappings of trance artists that profess to "Take You Higher" or some stupid thing. The album is full of electro hooks, haunting melodies and fun surprises. Thumbs up!