Ozone Player - "Insane Logic" VP001

This is an admirable work, much in the same way as a good arty film. The
craft put into it is excellent, the storytelling compelling, but do you like
it? For most, Insane Logic will have immediate impact, which may or may not
yield immediate appeal. Finnish musician Otso Pakarinen conjures up a variety
of challenging sonic images, everything from beautiful, tinkling electric
piano ("Shipping") to sampled voices that sound like a synthesized version of
jazz vocal group Manhattan Transfer ("Casino Mobile"). Though the
compositions are amazing, the end result seems at times like peering into the
thoughts of someone with multiple personality disorder. Even within tracks,
moods can change rapidly. For example, "Casino Mobile" changes from playful
vocalese to rollicking synths and beats. But this is mild compared to
"Minibar," which on the one hand sounds very chaotic, yet the mishmash of
sounds seem to be hammered out in a fairly regular time signature. "The
Reality Dysfunction" is a fascinating sound collage, with several distinct
passages. Though generally restrained and quiet, it unleashes the most
unusual pounding notes and chords toward the end, almost as if a child is
banging on the synth, yet it is clearly part of a carefully thought out
package. Many others, like "Praise," also seem intentionally discordant. But
Pakarinen seems to always know when to let up, interspersing the more
experimental disjointed pieces with more relaxed numbers like "Beam," which
has a softly repeating pulse of a few notes that soothes in the aftermath of
"Praise." Many of the slower tracks have a slightly sinister tone, such as
"Process." "Transport?!" is filled with lovely bells, although they are used
in unusual ways, which by this time isn't surprising as Insane Logic comes to
a close. Pakarinen's ability to pull off multiple styles and moods
successfully reminds me of Klaus Schulze, though the similarity ends there.
Also, Schulze never put his different styles all onto the same album. In the
end, fast or slow, each piece sounds like part of a puzzle, and whether you
think it all fits or not will depend on your taste and your mood at the time.
A promising and fascinating debut, definitely worth exploring.