Pansonic
“Katodivaihe/
Cathodephase”

 

Photos by Anne Hämäläin
Click to download high resolution photo
Pansonic are Mika Vainio and Ilpo Vaisanen, both Finnish nationals now based in Berlin. “Katodivaihe” is Pansonic’s first release for blastfirstpetite since “sidestepping” (at their own request) from the newly EMI owned Blast First / Mute Records for whom they have recorded since 1995. Their last release being the “quadruplets” that made up 2004’s musically massive and testing “Kesto” box set.
These 2006 recordings that make up this album features the continued extension and development of their trademarked “warm” electronic sound as per album bookends “Virta 1& 2”, and dub techniqued pummeling rythmns (“Tugboat”) and the Heavy Metal pound of “Machinist”.
But this new record also sees them expand their musical horizons further by the inclusion of young Icelandic cello player Hildur Gudnadottir (hilderness.com) on several tracks, and the use of some perhaps some more funk based rythmns (“Cutter”), whilst taking stretching the listener in the opposite direction via the abstracted soundscape centrepieces of “Kytkennat / Connection” & “Haiti”.
PAN SONIC have remained true to their original and pioneering use of their special handmade analog tone generators, more old radio set than synthesisers, with the occasional use of digital samplers for the more rhythmic sounds. They still record live to DAT tape in real time with no overdubbing.
With typical aclarity they re-cycle their earlier quotation on the basis that “it already says everything....”
“There is no theory for PAN SONIC. We have no plan. We just make the music.” (Mika Vainio)
In 2005 they were awarded Finnish Artists of The Year, much to the consternation of several elderly painters who had been quietly waiting their turn before passing away.
Cathodphase is a bright, sunshined “Pop” album that will delight both the aficionado and the newly curious.		  

“Katodivaihe / Cathodephase”
tracklist:

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. KERTSILOGIA / HERZLOGY
8. SUHTEELLINEN / COMPARATIVE
9. KYTKENNAT / CONNECTIONS
10. HAITI
11. HINAAJA / TUGBOAT
12. TYKITYS / CANNONING
13. LEIKKURI / CUTTER
14. VIRTA 2. / CURRENT 2.


Distribution: Cargo UK