Kemialliset Ystävät
Kemialliset Ystävät
2007
Brain-damaged and fucked, this is a psychedelic electronic-junkyard masterpiece from over the pond. This is a Finnish psych/noise/folk/bizarro record put out by the always-fascinating Fonal records in 2007. Kemialliset Ystävät means "Chemical Friends" and it certainly sheds a little light on the wild and varied sonics here. What you'll find inside these micro-worlds of sonic-expansion are blown-out synth lines, sampled and live drums, kazoo squeaks, unidentifiable found sounds, chimes, manipulated vocal chants and hums, bells, guitars, wild acoustic plucking, synth-tom-foolery and even a few melody lines. Nobody sounds this way while still retaining a semblance of form.
I urge new listeners to give this a few spins before determining your thoughts as this is a dense cacophony that slowly reveals it's submerged form over time. A good starting point and one of the most intelligible tracks here is the sublime "Superhimmeli". Beginning with a single pounding drum paired with some folky finger-plucking, the song eventually segues fifty seconds into a droning and swirling melody line with a multitude of bridges across this ever-shifting track. It's a striking listen and easily the most accessible tune here. One of the most ingenuitive and unique records to be had on these lists, Kemialliset Ystävät have created a pure masterpiece of modern songless songs. -S.R.
I urge new listeners to give this a few spins before determining your thoughts as this is a dense cacophony that slowly reveals it's submerged form over time. A good starting point and one of the most intelligible tracks here is the sublime "Superhimmeli". Beginning with a single pounding drum paired with some folky finger-plucking, the song eventually segues fifty seconds into a droning and swirling melody line with a multitude of bridges across this ever-shifting track. It's a striking listen and easily the most accessible tune here. One of the most ingenuitive and unique records to be had on these lists, Kemialliset Ystävät have created a pure masterpiece of modern songless songs. -S.R.
This album is one I don’t think I’d listen to often, but still thoroughly enjoy. Kemialliset Ystävät is one of the most unique listening experiences I’ve ever had – often when I listen to music with little to no vocals it tends to spark certain kinds of thoughts/images in my mind. That is not the case with this album; the music is so unique and complex that it’s actually difficult to think of anything else while listening to it. With that said, you’ll feel like your ear is receiving the best massage of its life the whole way through. - Phil
jesus do do you guys have dual citizenship with finland or sth? so many finnish bands :) i never realized they were such hotbeds for for indie music! I have to admit, the first minute and a half of this song was a bit too chaotic for me so i had to skip ahead...i did like it more the longer i left it on but my grandpa just woke up from his nap and told me to cut it out so i shall have to listen to the rest of this later
ReplyDeleteI think this is just the second one. These folks and Paavoharju. I guess 2 bands from Finland is a pretty big number considering there are only 50 albums on this list though.
ReplyDeleteoof...yes i think still a little too chaotic for me but an interesteing listen nonetheless :) thanks for posting!
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