Frozen Paint on Boiling Canvas
By Ozone Player

Industrial Mediterranean or what?

More than a little on the experimental side, Ozone Player, a one man group from Helsinki, Finland has a radical sense of genre bending composition. On his latest album, Frozen Paint on Boiling Canvas, Otso Pakarinen grinds electronic, experimental, dance grooves, some almost ambient touches and Mediterranean elements into a fine powder, adds a little water and it solidifies into a multicolored abstract sculpture of sound. Oh, there was some Celtic in there too. Quite the artist. What you end up with is an energy driven album that is hardly ever boring.

Otso Pakarinen found music at age twelve with a used electric guitar. (Join the club!) It wasn’t long before he and a few friends started their own progressive heavy metal band. Later, delving into other modes of progressive rock, Otso played in a band called Mojova Lisa for ten years. Somewhere in there a Moog synthesizer changed his musical direction. He headed for electronic and formed a partner ship with Jouni Halmari in 1987 and produced film tracks and background music. Otso released his first album, Insane Logic in 2000 followed by E in 2002. Jouni, his partner and friend passed away in July of 2004 and he dedicates this album to him.

As if his album title Frozen Paint on Boiling Canvas, isn’t odd enough, his track titles demonstrate just as much imagination. The opening track, The Sprawl, starts out with a cacophony of busy city sounds. Blaring horns, squealing brakes and a plethora of industrial and metal sounds drive into a quavering lead and a quirky Mediterranean score that gets your attention. Almost something like Allan Parsons, but with a bit more verve.

We Are All Carrying the Burden of Our Future, with sort of a Grundman feel, is definitely a great groove track. It has six minutes of pounding percussion, driving rhythms and an edgy lead that sits right on the edge of space music.

There are two tracks that don’t seem to belong on this particular album and Edgewood is one of them. It has a Celtic pastoral sensation that is gentle at times and anxious at others. Still, in the background is Pakarinen’s electronic signature that adds some definite rhythm.

From A to B, is a great title to a complex, yet terrific tune. Very light music here, almost dream-like, but with strong currents of energy. A good change from the usual punching tempo. This one possesses a transparent ambient texture that made it one of my favorites. It is good to know that Otso has a sensitive side.

I told you that Otso has a way with song titles. His final track, Whatever Happened to the Emperor’s Old Clothes? is proof. This strange tune with Middle Eastern flavor is complete with pops and clicks from the vinyl record era. Ah, what memories. It is the longest and best track on the album. Electronic horns, violins and thrashing percussion create an adventure into fairy tales for the more mature audience.

Ozone Player has produced a remarkable album with enough variety and vitality to entertain not just the electronic lovers out there, but a large segment of the World and Ambient audience as well that respect diversity and modern creativity. Put this in the CD Player and drive!

Rating: Good - (3/5) 
- reviewed by RJ Lannan on 7/8/2005
New Age Reporter