Lackluster
Real Name:
Esa Juhani Ruoho
Profile:
Esa Juhani Ruoho is one among the up and coming ambient electronic artists in Finland today. His first major label release, Container (deFocus, UK) was well received by critics and the electronic enthusiasts alike. He has after that had releases thru labels like Merck (Miami,US), Rikos Records (Finland), U-cover (Belgium), Inc.Us (Belgium), Zeal Records (Belgium), Psychonavigation (Ireland), New Speak Records (Sweden).
Born October 26, 1978 in Helsinki, Esa first became interested in computer music when he was 6. Some of his early favorites were the songs created for C64 games, later modules by such luminaries as Aleksi Eeben, Niko Nyman, Sami Järvinen, and others, on the Commodore Amiga. By 1994, Esa had shifted his musical interests to ambient/idm and has later on flourished as a member of the Helsinki scene, providing music for various netlabels like monotonik and kahvi.
Currently, Esa continues to release thru several international labels and explores new tracks & techniques at his flat in eastern Helsinki.
Contact: esaruoho@gmail.com
esa ruoho / kotikonnuntie 6 b 31 / 00940 helsinki / finland
Born October 26, 1978 in Helsinki, Esa first became interested in computer music when he was 6. Some of his early favorites were the songs created for C64 games, later modules by such luminaries as Aleksi Eeben, Niko Nyman, Sami Järvinen, and others, on the Commodore Amiga. By 1994, Esa had shifted his musical interests to ambient/idm and has later on flourished as a member of the Helsinki scene, providing music for various netlabels like monotonik and kahvi.
Currently, Esa continues to release thru several international labels and explores new tracks & techniques at his flat in eastern Helsinki.
Contact: esaruoho@gmail.com
esa ruoho / kotikonnuntie 6 b 31 / 00940 helsinki / finland
Sites:
lackluster.org, lackluster.org/free, lackluster.org/shop, lackluster.org/press, MySpace, last.fm/music/Lackluster, Wikipedia
Aliases:
Variations:
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Lackluster
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Discography
| Releases: | ||||
| 07/10/99 (File, MP3, VBR) | Kahvi Collective | 1999 | ||
| Bothersome (Mother Mix) (File, MP3, 128) | Monotonik | 1999 | ||
| CDR#1 (CDr) | Not On Label | 1999 | ||
| CDR#2 (CDr, Ltd, Album) | Monotonik | 1999 | ||
| 13/10/99 (File, MP3, 192) | Monotonik | 2000 | ||
| 7" (7") | Rikos Records | 2000 | ||
| Container (Album) ◄ (2 versions) | deFocus | 2000 | ||
| Foc349 ◄ (2 versions) | deFocus | 2000 | ||
| R U Oho? (EP) ◄ (4 versions) | deFocus ... | 2000 | ||
| Happyarpeg (File, MP3, VBR) | Kahvi Collective | 2001 | ||
| One-Offs EP (6xFile, MP3, EP, VBR) | Monotonik | 2001 | ||
| Rikos 7" (7") | Merck | 2001 | ||
| Zealectronic Purple (7", Ltd, Whi) | Zealectronic | 2001 | ||
| A Lackluster Remixer (12") | Merck | 2002 | ||
| Wrapping (Album) ◄ (2 versions) | deFocus | 2002 | ||
| Wrapping Sampler (12") | deFocus | 2002 | ||
| Not An EP (File, MP3, VBR) | Corewatch | 2003 | ||
| Showcase (CD, Album, Ltd) | Merck | 2003 | ||
| You Are On My Mind EP (File, MP3, EP, VBR) | Monotonik | 2003 | ||
| Live At Freeflow, Helsinki 16/07/03 (File, MP3, 128) | Monotonik | 2004 | ||
| RemixSelection_One (CD) | Psychonavigation Records | 2004 | ||
| Showcase ◄ (2 versions) | Merck | 2004 | ||
| Last Song For The Night (File, ogg) | Kahvi Collective | 2005 | ||
| Slice (CD, Album) | U-Cover | 2005 | ||
| What You Want Isn’t What You Need (CD, Album) | New Speak | 2005 | ||
| Zero Million Barrels Of Oil Per Day (File, MP3, VBR) | Monotonik | 2005 | ||
| 13/10/99 (File, MOV) | Kahvi Collective | 2006 | ||
| LL25/09/01 (File, MP3) | 3L reckodz | 2006 | ||
| Lax EP (File, MP3, EP, 256) | Digilog | 2006 | ||
| CDR#2 (12xFile, MP3, Album, RM, 320) | Kahvi Collective | 2007 | ||
| Live At Assembly 2007 (File, ogg, VBR) | Kahvi Collective | 2007 | ||
| Repulsine Ep (CD) | SLSK Records | 2007 | ||
| The Stationary Trout EP (File, MP3, EP) | part2 records | 2007 | ||
| Aeration EP (2xFile, MP3, EP, 320) | TwoCircles | 2009 | ||
| Cold Trail EP (6xFile, MP3, EP, 320) | Acroplane.org, Acroplane.org | 2009 | ||
| Live At Oblivion ◄ (2 versions) | Kahvi Collective | 2009 | ||
| Proof Of Concept ◄ (2 versions) | Yuki Yaki | 2009 | ||
| The Flows EP (5xFile, MP3, EP, 320) | part2 records | 2009 | ||
| Remixes: | ||||
| Half The Battle (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) | Izey Rael (Lacklustermx) | Merck ... | 2002 | |
| Mixt (CD, Album) | Rock Robot (Lackluster... | Senton Recordings | 2002 | |
| Remixed Sampler (File, MP3, 128) | Quasipede (Lackluster ... | Monotonik | 2002 | |
| Standard_Naming_Convention (7", Ltd, Cle) | Standard Naming Conven... | n5MD | 2002 | |
| The Remixes (CD, Comp, Enh) | Untitled | Carpark Records, Carpark Records | 2002 | |
| Thug::Remixed (CD) | Quasipede (Lackluster ... | Aural Industries | 2002 | |
| Blabla (CD) | Masro Remix (Lackluste... | Blasé | 2003 | |
| Parallemped Ep (12", EP) | Too Few Arguments (No ... | spa.RK | 2003 | |
| Bovine Rearrangement (CD, Album, Ltd) | Untitled (Lackluster R... | Merck | 2004 | |
| Half The Battle 3 ◄ (2 versions) | Izey Rael (Lacklustermx) | Merck | 2004 | |
| Head Movement (CD, Maxi) | Sitting Pretty (Lacklu... | Psychonavigation Records | 2004 | |
| Head Retreat / Hehlektro (12") | Head Retreat (hedspace... | Ihmelevyt | 2004 | |
| I Like To Play With Laser Beams (10xFile, MP3, VBR + File, MP3, 256 + File, MP3, 12) | Chase HQ (Lackluster C... | Antiscarp Records | 2004 | |
| Lackluster Remixes Line Noise 001 (File, MP3, 192) | Lacedmilk Technologies | 2004 | ||
| Merck Mix 3 (CD) | Lackluster Mix (28/04/01) | Merck | 2004 | |
| Arepa 2 / Infiltrate 7.0 (CD, Ltd, Boo) | In My Room (Lackluster... | Arepaz | 2005 | |
| Blamstrain Remixed (CD, Ltd) | Alive In Arms (Lacklus... | Merck | 2005 | |
| Blamstrain Remixed Part One ◄ (3 versions) | Untitled (Lackluster) | Merck | 2005 | |
| Folk, Lisergia, Computers (CD) | My Baby Is A Robot (La... | igloo-rec | 2005 | |
| Hold It Down No. 1 (CD) | Sitting Pretty (Lacklu... | Nice & Nasty Records | 2005 | |
| Imaginary Track (Lackluster 23/07/02mx 26/03/04b Ableton Live Jam) (File, MP3, 184) | Laidback Electronica | 2005 | ||
| Jibaro Times FM: WLMF 5 (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) | In My Room | Arepaz | 2005 | |
| Latatoo (File, MP3) | Latatoo (Lackluster Dn... | Cobalt Recordings | 2005 | |
| My Baby Is A Robot (File, MP3) | My Baby Is A Robot (La... | igloo-rec | 2005 | |
| Remaking The Pearl (CD, Album) | Fools (Lackluster Mix) | Psychonavigation Records | 2005 | |
| The Widnes Redevelopment Project (CD, Ltd) | Runt (Lackluster Squeez) | n5MD | 2005 | |
| Intelligent Toys 3 (File, MP3, 192) | Nighthiker (Lackluster... | Sutemos | 2006 | |
| Merck Fragments (CD-ROM, Ltd) | Lilypads (Lackluster R... | Merck, Merck | 2006 | |
| Mergerz & Acquisitionz (2xCD, Album, Ltd) | Offsetcetera Lackluste... | Merck | 2006 | |
| Perpetual Green Part 2 (The Deep Mixes) (12") | Perpetual Green (Lackl... | Cobalt Recordings | 2006 | |
| Problems/Solved (Album) ◄ (2 versions) | In The Mist (Lackluste... | Artificial Music Machine ... | 2006 | |
| Intelligent Toys 4 (File, MP3, Comp) | Delucht (Lacklustermx) | Sutemos | 2007 | |
| One Point Two: More Digital Listening Music From Rednetic (CD, Comp) | Harajuku (Lackluster P... | Rednetic Recordings | 2007 | |
| Re:Mixed (CD, Album) | Tilburg Crack City - L... | Angelmaker Records, My First Sonny Weissmuller Recordings | 2007 | |
| Feelin' Electrified / Tracey's Revenge (Remixes) (12") | Feelin' Electrified (L... | Nice & Nasty Records | 2008 | |
| From The Vaults Of The F Drive (File, MP3, 192) | Tilburg Crack City (La... | Vukzid | 2008 | |
| Golden Pines (EP) ◄ (3 versions) | Ghosts (Lackluster Wav... | Binkcrsh | 2008 | |
| Madrid 2 Los Angeles (Album) ◄ (2 versions) | We Walk (Lackluster Re... | Project: Mooncircle | 2008 | |
| Rednetic Showcase (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) | Jpop Moment (Lackluste... | Rednetic Recordings | 2008 | |
| The Nighthiker Remixes (File, MP3, 128) | Nighthiker (Lackluster... | Envizagae | 2008 | |
| Breeze (The Cobalt Mixes) (File, MP3) | Breeze (Lackluster 081... | Cobalt Recordings | 2009 | |
| Copy Paste Delete (Remixes) (7xFile, WAV) | Copy Paste Delete (Lac... | Dublin Xpress Recordings | 2009 | |
| Heavy Hitters II (File, MP3) | This Moment (Lackluste... | Cobalt Recordings | 2009 | |
| Production: | ||||
| The Heart On The Right Spot (2xLP, Ltd) | Ll180905 | Project: Mooncircle | 2007 | |
| Appears On: | ||||
| Scateren (File, ogg) | Aatu(ussn) | Kahvi Collective | 2005 | |
| Pure Blue Remixes (File, MP3) | "Pure Blue" (Lackluste... | Nice & Nasty Records | 2009 | |
| Tracks Appear On: | ||||
| Penguin Mechanics Volume III (CD, Comp) | Third Pie | Kracfive | 1999 | |
| A Beginners Guide To Rikos (CDr) | Buzz, 11/11/99 | Rikos Records | 2000 | |
| Aurora (CD, Comp, Ltd) | Onuj | Merck | 2000 | |
| Do You See (12") | Starcell UK | deFocus | 2000 | |
| Neferiu Sampler (CD) | Haloaw | Neferiu Records | 2000 | |
| Sampler 000504 (CDr, Smplr) | Cull Streak (Bauri Remix) | Not On Label | 2000 | |
| Squadron (CD, Ltd) | Intro 1 (Frank Bolero ... | Merck | 2000 | |
| Autumnature (CD, Comp) | 31/10/99 | Autumn Records | 2001 | |
| Bedazzled Movements (File, MP3) | Cull Streak | Subsource | 2001 | |
| Did You See (CD) | Starcell UK, Cull Stre... | deFocus | 2001 | |
| Initial Release - Surgery Compilation 01 (2xCD, Comp, Ltd) | 11/11/99 | Surgery Records | 2001 | |
| Squadron Sampler ◄ (2 versions) | Intro 1 (Frank Bolero ... | Merck | 2001 | |
| Suojain002 (2xCD) | Rumk8 | Suojain | 2001 | |
| Annexe: Cottage Industries 2 ◄ (2 versions) | Wristcontrol | Neo Ouija | 2002 | |
| Fast Foward Saturday (File, MP3) | Plip | Subsource | 2002 | |
| Mine Is Yours (MD, Ltd) | Cull Streak (Dull Stre... | n5MD | 2002 | |
| Psychokinesis (CD) | Mes | Psychonavigation Records | 2002 | |
| Psychonavigation Records Sampler (CD) | MES | Psychonavigation Records | 2002 | |
| Skobber Spuren (File, MP3) | Gummy | Subsource | 2002 | |
| Electronic Emotional Music Volume One (CD, Comp) | 02/12/02 | Electronic Emotional Music | 2003 | |
| Merck Mix 1, Spring 2003 (CD, Mixed, Ltd) | Haloaw, Strateface | Merck | 2003 | |
| Merck Mix 2, Summer 2003 (CD, Ltd) | 28-06-00, 18-10-99 | Merck | 2003 | |
| 101 (File, MP3, Comp, 192) | ll180302 | One | 2004 | |
| Direction Of A Rainbow (Cass, Mixed) | Close Enough | Clockwise Recordings (Japan) | 2004 | |
| Hardworks - Genetic Terror (CD, Comp, Mixed, Ltd) | 01/10/00, 11/11/99 | Babywelt Recordings | 2004 | |
| Infiltrate 6.0 (12") | Ambling On (030503) | Rice And Beans | 2004 | |
| Intelligent Toys (File, MP3) | Thor's Magic Bathtub | Sutemos | 2004 | |
| Intelligent Toys 2 (File, MP3, Comp, 192) | Glass 080598 | Sutemos | 2004 | |
| Merck Mix 3 (CD) | Suntrapez (Brothomstat... | Merck | 2004 | |
| Panoptica Frequences Modulees (CD) | Wallow (16/09/02) | Panoptic | 2004 | |
| Butano Beats Volume 1 (Comp) ◄ (3 versions) | Haste (22 03 2004) | Kahvi Collective ... | 2005 | |
| From Our Hoodz To Yourz... (12") | Hmainham | Angelmaker Records | 2005 | |
| One Minute Massacre Volume 2 (File, MP3) | Untitled | Soulseek Records | 2005 | |
| 10 Years Of Monotonik - The Mix (File, MP3, VBR) | Starcell U.K. | Monotonik | 2006 | |
| Intelligent Toys 3 (File, MP3, 192) | Wallow | Sutemos | 2006 | |
| M3rck Meets The Fish (CD, Smplr, Promo) | 191099 | Freeze (Magazine) | 2006 | |
| Merck Fragments (CD-ROM, Ltd) | 030503 | Merck, Merck | 2006 | |
| Prox EP (File, MP3, EP, 320) | Easy Does It | Ghostly International | 2006 | |
| Summer Compilation (CD, Comp) | 04/04/02 | Belladonna Records | 2006 | |
| Cycles (44xFile, MP3, Comp, VBR) | After Pi Trak | Camomille Music | 2007 | |
| Schall_Mauer (File, MP3, Comp, 320) | Hippihoppi | Schall-Netlabel | 2007 | |
| The Heart On The Right Spot (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) | Ll180905 | Project: Mooncircle | 2007 | |
| Mioku (CD, Comp) | Goodbyefrenchplace | Controne Records | 2008 | |
| Mission Statement (CD, Comp, Promo, Ltd) | Beloved | Erotus | 2008 | |
| Netaudio London 2008 Showcase (File, FLAC, Comp) | Beechmount | Netaudio London | 2008 | |
| RA.105 (File, MP3, Mixed, Pod) | Meanwhile | Resident Advisor | 2008 | |
| Acroplane V/A 02 (23xFile, MP3, Comp, 320) | Spot The Melody | Acroplane.org, Acroplane.org | 2009 | |
| Apegenine Volume 2: Hypocondriac (18xFile, MP3, Comp, 320) | Jotaikaikee | Apegenine | 2009 | |
| Axis Of Amity (CDr, Comp, Ltd) | Liop Mehch't! Nosp Mis... | The Centrifuge | 2009 | |
| Axis Of Amity (30xFile, MP3, 320) | Liop Mehch't! Nosp Mis... | The Centrifuge | 2009 | |
| Before We Melt (10xFile, MP3, Comp, 320 + 10xFile, FLAC) | Kontulalibrarytrak | IVDT | 2009 | |
| Friendly Strangers (CDr, Album + File, MP3, V0) | Why | [Unnamed Label] Records | 2009 | |
| Mogwai Hört Broken Beats (14xFile, MP3, Comp) | Haloaw | mogwai.de | 2009 | |
| The Nines (9xFile, MP3, Comp, 320) | LL200105 | Bypass Netlabel | 2009 | |
we might be able to describe the contents or interpret the meaning of Esa Ruoho's work
entitled Container. He channels the operas of long detatched future alien civilations into
a form which appeases the limitations of our primitive human minds. Its not often that an musician
is able to create a work of such stunning beauty. From futuristic hip hop derivitives
ambient bassline creations, the creator employs a melodic intuition from which every twinkling
structure descends, piercing the grey haze of bassline and synth washes with intense beams of
analog sunrays. The next step in evolution will undoubtedly involve humans trancending the grevious
limits of verbal and written communications and developing emotional psychic interfaces, an audible
representation of which may resemble the work of LACKLUSTER.