Mika Vainio – Onko

Another reviewer on Discogs once mentioned while reviewing a Mika Vainio release how the term "minimalism" is often overused but also describes a certain form of musical mutation which is beyond the temporal limitations of commercial music, and hence never truly goes out of style. This being said (although I am interpreting the explanation, not offering a direct quotation) it is therefore safe to assume that "minimalism" is both eternal and timeless as such morcels of sonic artistery can be thoroughly enjoyed pretty much any time, any place, reguardless of which era we happen to be, without ever getting a feeling of pop nostalgia nor secret shame for a "has been" piece of music.

Mika Vainio's "ONKO" is a collection of pieces recorded between 1996 and 1997, and was for a while often considered a fan favorite of the artist's numerous solo outings. Perhaps other listeners will consider this album not as perfect or complete as some of his other works, but as a point in time, "Onko" is a great reflection of where the artist was in terms of non-linear explorations of sound purity and its natural (and synthetic) brilliance and decay.

"Kelvin" begins the disc, an almost 9 minute reminder of how one can use tones and fuzz which could only be described as noise without falling into the usual over-indulgeance of such styles. It is a rather non-aggressive and non-threatening piece even though its out-of-tune transistor radiowaves feel would suggest otherwise. Following with "Jos" (translated as "If?"), an almost inaudible high-pitched tone grows in volume until it is accompanied by lesser earache inducing drones with a cumulative effect of an unerving audio test experiment. Perhaps not as abbrasive as the opener, but deffinately a lesser easy listening experience.

We are then transported to 1996 with the 36+ minute title piece "Onko parts 1 - 11" ("Is It?"), which has a note stating it was a sound installation for an art happening in Holland. Ovbiously a more attention demanding track due to its sheer length, it also offers the most movement and variety albeit somewhat still static in aesthetics. It requires a certain amount of appreciation to be able to notice the subtleties offered throughout the numerous movements of the track, which includes a hint of field recordings as well as some pulse manipulations which create a sense of rhythm without having to resort to the thumping of drum machines. "Onko" is obviously the deffinitive track which deffines both the album itself as well as showcases Mr Vainio as both comfortable and an expect in the art of controlled audio chaos, seeing as how everything appears warranted and planned, as if nothing was left to chance, something of a true rarity in the domain of non-linear abstract electronic experimentalism. Like all lengthy pieces of such vein, there are better moments than others, some offering remarkeable reward especially when layers of electronics flow into what appears to be a semblance of musical-oriented ambiance.

We finish off with the 16+ minute long "Viher" (or "Green/Cellular" as the translations offer), which follows and flows almost as though it is a continuation of the final movement of the previous "Onko" piece, a looped drone not unlike the final disc of Panasonic's mammoth "Kesto" 4-disc set (as a reference, "Kesto" 's 4rth disc is a 60 minute long drone piece entitled "Sateily / Radiation") which does offer a different side to the otherwise non-traditional non-linear explorations of Vainio's solo efforts, seeing as how it is the closest to drone oriented minimalism than the usual sounds prefered by the artist. Through its somewhat organic flow, the drone is processed and therefore subtlely shifts and morphs slightly without ever actually changing shape, only smoothing or sharpening its edges, its color, its overall brilliance, until it seems to have slowly degraded into a gentle feedback of its own origins. Some listeners will have lost interest in the piece after a few minutes, rendering the hypnotic and soothing effects of "Viher" more effective than perhaps originally anticipated.

Ages ago when I first heard this disc at an ex-friend's place (who categorically refused to sell it to me knowing I was perhaps north america's number one Pan fan) I came to realize that this was amongst some of Mika Vainio's best works in the lesser abbrasive side of his numerous project. The first two pieces may be more in tune to those seeking more thrills, but as the title track begins its formidable journey, it enters areas of a gentler nature, culminating in an almost peaceful and relaxation state, a rarity for such releases. "Onko" comes highly recommended as I consider it one of his best efforts to date.