Another fine Pan Sonic Album!
Steward Willons | Illinois | 07/11/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Since there are multiple versions of this album floating around, here's some info on the edition Amazon is selling (I can't vouch for the Marketplace sellers - they may have something different):
Amazon sent me the 14 track version - it's about 67 minutes - here are the tracks
1. Virta 1 / Current 1
2. Lahetys / Transmission
3. Koneistaja / Machinist
4. Hyonteisista / About Insects
5. Laptevinmeri / Laptev Sea
6. Kuumuudessa Muodostuva / Forming in Heat
7. Hertsilogia / Herzology
8. Suhteellinen / Comparative
9. Kytkennat / Connections
10. Haiti
11. Hinaaja / Tugboat
12. Tykitys / Cannoning
13. Leikkuri / Cutter
14. Virta 2 / Current 2
From what I understand, there's also a 19-track edition that plays around 76 minutes. As always, it's a bit difficult to get good information about Pan Sonic's work.
As for the music, it's a great as ever. All Pan Sonic fans should buy this album right away. Many tracks sound similar to the first two discs of Kesto: Some are extremely aggressive and caustic, some are beat-driven ambience. There are also some interesting tracks with live cello. From the sound of it, Vainio and Vaisanen seem to be manipulating the sound of Hildur Gudnadottir's cello in real time. It brings in a new sense of melody that I haven't heard in previous Pan Sonic albums. It's an interesting new direction for them and it works really well.
If you're new to Pan Sonic, I might recommend Aaltopiiri or A over this to start, but if you're a seasoned Pan Sonic fan, you'll love this CD."
The sound of sand iron grinders
filterite | Dublin, Ireland | 09/01/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Pan Sonic return with this follow up to the mammoth Kesto. It's not an easy to listen to album. At times the album sounds way too disjointed with sounds just popping up here and there without any real connection. At times it almost sounds like Kesto but it doesn't. Dig into a little more and there's a real difference. The effect of Hildur Gudnadottir's cello is deceptive. At first you don't think it goes with Pan Sonic's noise aesthetic but listen to it more and they compliment each other well. Some have said that it gives a human feel to proceedings, I would disagree......if anything, the tracks which Hildur's cello appear on ( tracks 1, 8 and 14 ) make it sound a more alien experience. Which can only be what Pan Sonic would have wanted.
I won't say that it is their best album, for me their earlier albums still hold much more for me and Kesto provided something regardless of your mood, but it is a very strong album. Deceptively so. It may not prove much on first listen, second listen, third listen but gradually it works it's way on you and you begin to see it for what it is."
A Carefully Directed Movement of Sound
Richie Corelli | 07/14/2007
(3 out of 5 stars)
"After a slowly fading intro, Katodivaihe / Cathodephase opens up with the echoing rhythms of "Virta 1. / Current 1.". Layers of cold ambiance blow under tight echoing beats and dreary, heavy bass in a style similar to the music on Haujobb's Ninety-Nine. Then, with one graceful stroke, the track gains a human touch. Cellist Hildur Gudnadottir's marks her presence by adding an organic element to counter the synthetic chill of Mika Vainio and Ilpo Väisänen's electronic manipulation.
The cellist reprises her role in "Suhteelinin / Herzlogy". Here, her stings completely own the song. Without the accompaniment of beats and bass, her cello bounces off spaces of silence. They also play along minimal tones of subtle electronic tones. It is a nine minute track of eerie sounds and haunting strings, beautiful whines and harrowing yelps. That is, until the last two minutes. Here, the piece takes a dramatic turn in sound and volume. It is an alarming change as thick blasts of sound stutter their way from the speakers. The sonic onslaught of the last two minutes remind the listener that while Gudnadottir strings are a welcome touch, the ownership of this album goes to Vainio and Väisänen.
The duo manage their album by tying its ends together in a circle with carefully directed movement of sound. They use beats to dominate the first couple of tracks and then push them away as the album progresses. Drums start to become more sporadic as they slow down and dissipate, sputtering-out like a dying motor. The album shifts. The focus moves from rhythmic structures to textural studies. Through the album's center, Pan Sonic explore the relationship between soft plates of fuzz and loud blasts of noise. Then, gradually, the beats start to make their way back into the record. By the end of the album, the songs are back to as they were in the beginning; clean throbs of even rhythms over crunchy industrial soundscapes.
This is an album that showcases intelligent diversity. It incorporates different styles of music without ever getting netted into one by focusing on Post-Industrial, Noise, and Drone while bringing in elements of Funk, Dub, and Detroit Techno. Throughout their career, Pan Sonic have consistently produced thought-out, fully realized albums and Katodivaihe / Cathodephase is no exception.
"
