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BJARKI

Unfathomably fast and futuristic music here from this Icelandic talent who takes cues from VTSS, Kisloty (Schacke, Rune Bagge etc) and others to create a highly energized form of modern techno that’s monstrously reactive, hyper-charged and specialist engineered for maximum impact.

The lead track, “I Wanna Go Home” references Arthur Russell’s iconic vocal line as it charges through at break neck speed complete with rattling 303s; a full frequency demolition ball that occasionally pauses to offer bursts of light through this rampant hard-techno romp. “Wool” deploys metallic shards, some granulated vox manipulation and this big ‘WOO’ sample – a battle cry for the technoid soldiers out post-4AM doing battle with the speaker stacks.

“Electric Ppl” might just be the most restrained out of the whole bunch as it’s ricocheting, bucking groove feels like you’re holding a snake by its tail. “Toilet Roll" shudders and judders with electrical energy; its rolling machine-code low-end puncturing the cerebrum incessantly as atmospheric washes and mangled vox swirl overhead. More words are merely superfluous – get this beast on the turntable and witness it’s powers! 


STAFF COMMENTS

Matt says: Chest beating, stadium-blasted techno that's ever-so virgin on gabber. Closer listens however reveal a poise, sophistication and technological know-how that puts Bjarki right at the front of the pack. This is expert electronic music, regardless of the high tempos. Almost like what Sophie did for 'hyper pop', Bjarki is doing for 'hyper techno'. I love it - if not for the sole reason that it made Darryl nearly shit himself when played on the shop system!

TRACK LISTING

A1. I Wanna Go Home
A2. Woo!
B1. Electric Ppl
B2. Toilet Rush

An expressive electronic album filled with sadness, yet one with the sort of positive, stirring resolve that leaves you feeling utterly comforted, Bjarki’s new album "Happy Earthday" is influenced by his home country Iceland as well as environmental issues. 'Maybe you can feel the melancholy of my life, the nature overall. Volcanos and the lava flowing down the slopes, the frightening noise of the ocean beating the land, the strong wind in the mountain passes and a glimpse of the first ray of the rising sun over the glacier. Now that is the dawn of a new day.”

Having released bodies of work on Nina Kraviz’s label трип and his own label bbbbbb, Bjarki views "Happy Earthday" as his proper debut album; he feels it’s a more coherent and conceptual body of work that finds him offering up music he never thought he would release. 'You can consider this album a window into my head and even my soul,' says Bjarki. 'For me it is a bit odd, sharing like this to the world. As a very private person I am not used to opening my door so completely. It’s a little scary for me. ‘What if …’ I wonder, expecting all kinds of everything.'

The album contains very personal material written over the last decade during fragile moments of introspection. And because of that, 'releasing this album is also a kind of a farewell to music I made in a certain period in my life. It’s like I’m saying farewell to a grown-up child which is now ready to leave the nest.'

There are skeletal rhythms with sombre chords lingering in the air, downbeat drums with heavy moods, and moments of more uplifting optimism along the way. Throughout the album - made up of comparatively short tracks that help the whole thing move at an engaging pace - Bjarki always manages to make his machines sing with real resonance; they ooze genuine pain and a stunning sense of melancholy that is comforting even when the tempo is raised and drums come to the fore.


TRACK LISTING

1/A1. BlessuðBörnin
2/A2. Alone In Sandkassi
3/A3. ( . )_( . )
4/A4. Two-brainedness
5/B1. AN6912
6/B2. Healthy Texting
7/B3. Bheiv_sheep
8/C1. ANa5
9/C2. Cereal Rudestorm
10/C3. Salty Grautinn
11/C4. Sprinq 3-2
12/D1. Plastic Memories
13/D2. LitaogLeira
14/D3. Happy Screams
15/D4. UX


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