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BROTHOMSTATES Claro (WARPCD88) Warp Records 2001 12 Tracks. 69mins43secs. Buy this CD on line now

At only 23, Lassi Nikko is the latest addition to the Warp roster. With his Brothomstates alter ego, the Finn has already triggered some interest in his native country. His first EP for Warp, Qtio, has gained the man a certain amount of recognition, and he his now introducing his first album. Nikko developed an interest for electronic gear from an early age, starting by tempering with his father’s tape recorders, before moving onto computers and samplers. This has allowed him to perfect his blend of natural and artificial sounds, used to transcend his emotional states, driving each of his compositions. Claro is, therefore, a highly personal and subjective record. Despite a lingering feeling of slight minimalism, the structural backbone of Claro is rather complex, evoking as much Plaid (Brothomstates Ixpen) as the metallic constructions of Spooky’s Found Sound (Kava, Mr. Kitchock) or the pioneers of the Detroit sound (Te Noch RP). The melodies are basic and reminiscent of the Artificial Intelligence series, in their evolutive repetitiveness. This is a record inhabited by sine waves, abrasive percussive noises and intricate beats. Claro is hardly groundbreaking, as it suffers from Nikko’s constant name check with his influences. He, however, manages to keep the interest going enough, with clever touches of glitch and noises. The compositions are rather convincing, even when he extends his soundscapes to the more atmospheric moments of Autechre’s Tri Repetae (Viimo) or Chiastic Slide (Kivesq). Unfortunately, if Claro is a rather good album by all standards, it lacks the necessary personality that would make of it a brilliant, forward looking, record. With Claro, Lassi Nikko proves beyond doubts that he has assimilated enough influences to produce some interesting music. It is however surprising to see Warp, who have got us used to more exiting releases, being associated with this rather unimaginative record.

TRACK LISTING  01 In 07 Te Noch RP 02 Brothomstates Ixpen 08 Kivesq 03 Kava 09 Natin 04 24101999 10 Mr. Kitschock 05 - 11 Detectiv Plok 06 MDRMX 12 Viimo

THE SURFER'S GUIDE TO BROTHOMSTATES BROTHOMSTATES Very basic site for Lassi Nikko's Brothomstates project. Includes a discography and a few (brilliant) graphics. WARP RECORDS Warp is certainly the most exiting label of the last ten years. Home of British electronica, it also hosts some very good pop-like stuff.