My copy of Vladislav Delay’s new album “Vantaa” arrived at my doorstep today. It has a lovely lo-fi sound, and a tension reminiscent of the early Delay works such as Rantaa, or Ele. Vantaa is more rhythmically biased than any other of his recent album, and seems to be a nod toward a neo classical rumbling Vladislav Delay; a return to his roots of sorts.
Every sound is processed, and every single bar is edited and cut – but not in the obvious “Click & Cuts” aesthetic, more of an organic rumbling and destruction feel. Most of the drive in the album comes from his broken rhythms, stuttering and plodding like an unbalanced machine. Compression slams the drums down into the murky ambience, melodies come and go without introduction.
Really, it’s typical Vladislav, but I happen to like it.
No boundaries are pushed, and no further ground is really made with this release, but it’s lovely in a way that no other ‘ambient’ music seems to be.