A visit from the Earthling

In some years as a music writer, I haven’t come along an album as deft, versatile and fascinating as Jori Hulkkonen’s Man From Earth. It’s just out recently, but I’ve had the pleasure of an advance copy for some months now and I’ve honestly listened to at least part of it nearly every day. I’ve been obsessed. It’s like this disc was written specifically to reprogram me into a Hulkkonen-worshipping robot. I’ve started to wonder whether it’s just something made by a guy who knows too much about electronic music, for people who listen to it and think about it too much. I certainly hope I’m wrong, and it isn’t just for those too far down the rabbit hole to see out, because it’s beautiful.

You very well might not know anything about Jori Hulkkonen. Despite production credits on much of Tiga’s album work, a side project with Jesper Dahlback called Kebacid, an incredible 10-man TR-303 symphony and a huge stack of albums, remixes, singles and such, he’s always been an obscure figure, and honestly will probably remain so. But do yourself a favour and give this thing a listen and/or drop by the Montreal album launch party this Friday, Nov. 27 at Velvet, where Hulkkonen will be spinning records with the Turbo Recordings brass, Mike Mind, Thomas Von Party and who knows who else. From the first, howling synths and classic, depressive new wave vibe of “I Am Dead” to the cosmic voyage of “Musta Gunilla” to the tortured lamentation of “Re: Last Year” to the hammering, relentless angst of “I Dance to Your Bass My Friend,” this is a rollercoaster and a masterpiece.

“WHY WOULD I MAKE AN EFFORT TO CHANGE
YOUR MIND AGAIN?” jack.oatmon@gmail.com