Ø – Oleva

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To the untrained ear, all Mika Vainio solo releases and side-projects (such as Ø in this case) may seem to sound the same. It is with that in mind that I humbly offer this easy to assimilate comparisson. Mika Vainio is like AC/DC (yes, the rock band), in the sense that he has his own sound, his own characteristically unique sound design and construction, and does not see it necessary to change his own "recipe" from one album to the next, which makes it perfect for his fans who seek something "stable" in terms of what to expect.

2008's "Oleva" can be described as a perfect point in trying to find the balance between the usual minimal tonal works of Mika Vainio and his more stripped-down/bare rhythms of his project Ø. Beginning in purest Vainio fashion with "Unien Holvit", it quickly moves into more beat-oriented Ø sounds which may seem to be slightly more "aggro" flavored than the traditional crystal clean minimalism of his Panasonic project (with Ilpo Vaisanen), until of course the "hit" piece which takes the stage in the form of a Pink Floyd cover song (Roger Waters' "Set The Controls to the Heart of the Sun"), something which may seem anomalous at first but actually is an absolutely brilliant remake, a true Ø track if there ever was one.

Like most of his other solo works, Mika explores the synthetic sound in the purest natural way, always allowing it to grow and expand while maintaining subtle yet masterful control over the chaotic nature of feedback and reverberation which (un)filtered electronics can sometimes explode into. Even in his quietest moments, there is a geniune feeling of pacing and a timely spacing to his abstract works, an obvious sign of his knowledge and control over what is intimately his own domain. Most of his less rhythm-oriented pieces off of "Oleva" do seem to hover nearer the minimal ambience stylings, although there are always a few hints of high-pitched ear-aching and unpredictable bursts lurking nearby. And to mix up his own recipe to keep fans on their toes, "Tasanko" even utilizes electrical guitar as its main sound source, giving the piece an odd un-north-western feel not unlike some manga sci-fi soundtrack from the early 90s.

"Oleva" is another excellent entry to the ever-expanding Mika Vainio discography, showcasing the artist in full knowledge of his craft and still able to continually produce stimulating non-music (for the most part, although it is obvious he does have strong musical-oriented sensibilities) while retaining true to his own genre. As is the case with most of his full length albums, there are always anomalies and moments of unpredictable surprises which serve as a reminder that Vainio doesn't box himself into a corner without having a few tricks up his sleeve. I found my copy right here on Discogs for a fair price, and strongly suggest this album to any Mika Vainio fan. Another winning entry into my personal collection!

You would think that by being one of the prominent sound engineers and pioneers in experimental music since 1993, Mika Vainio would have run out of steam. You would think that numerous copy cats would push his sound design into obscure corner of just another knob tweaking artist. You would think. But Vainio treads on. Currently residing in Berlin, Vainio is a prominent member of the acclaimed Pan Sonic duo (with Ilpo Väisänen). And besides his more established minimalist alias, Ø (pronounced "ohm"), he has also released under Kentolevi, Tekonivel, and Philus monikers - check out the Kolmio EP on Sähkö for the latter. Speaking of the label. Helsinki based Sähkö (which stands for "electricity" in Finnish) has built up a respectable catalog of abstract, minimal, and experimental releases since its launch in 1993 [same year that Detroit's Basic Channel was launched]. These are mostly featuring the output of various projects by Vainio and Väisänen, with an occasional release by Jimi Tenor, and a 12" by Mike Ink (Wolfgang Voigt). It also manages a handful of sub-labels which include Jazzpuu, Keys Of Life, and Puu (means "wood"). But back to Oleva ("The Existing") which features the familiar signature of Vainio's style of digital wire hum, low rumbling saw-tooth distortions, dark industrial stabs, and pounding minimal beats. Although the album features a few purely ambient tracks, as well as a couple of abstract drony explorations, the proliferation of tight rhythmic components make this release a more headphone oriented experience [as opposed to an archive of an experimental audio installations]. Oleva is is an ongoing exploration into noise and silence alike. Yet another excellent addition for the avid minimalist collector. It's delightful to see that Sähkö keeps on printing just the quality stuff. Make sure you are well familiar with Ø's classic Metri (Sähkö, 1994). Recommended if you love Gas, Autechre, anything from Basic Channel, and of course Pan Sonic.