Mika Vainio
Onko

Mika Vainio "Onko" (Touch 1997, blue cover with cactus) is an album of only 4 tracks, which nonetheless represent one of the greatest pinnacles of techno sound sophistication developed by Vainio throughout his career.

The sounds are in constant contrast with each other and represent one of the peaks of the techniques developed during his continuous explorations into the sonic "void". Almost total absence of rhythmic textures, instead dominated by sounds of various nature, samples of broken natural noises, atonal microfrequencies so dear to Pan Sonic of "Aaltopiiri" and "A".

The first track, "Kelvin" is perhaps the least exploratory. 8 minutes of atonal frequencies that continuously change timbre while maintaining a certain stylistic setting (within the track itself). The second track, "Jos" initiates a dialogue with silence, then an ultra-accelerated trill on the high sound frequencies gradually increases up to the limit of audibility, then stops abruptly and makes way for the unstoppable spread of "emptiness", the sounds fade away until the track ends.

It is a strong album, especially because of the long title track "Onko", divided into 11 small "sound phases" for more than half an hour of music. Inside it, you can really find everything! It starts with a discourse on a whistle that changes pitch, interrupted by a snap of unspecified nature, and resumes with a notorious (for the duo) electronic interference, as if you were on a dead radio AM channel. It slowly dissolves and following that the actual track begins. Among a thousand other nuances, the idea of a single concept, perhaps the essence of sound, stripped of everything around it, presented here in the most minimal form possible.
Vainio even sampled almost 5 minutes of silence, disturbed only by imperceptible frequencies. Frequencies very similar to those heard when a turntable needle accidentally scratches the vinyl. An effect so well reproduced that those unfamiliar with this guy's "music" would think that sound was actually a defect of the CD!

However, the peak moment comes towards the end, through the noise of what could be tiny stones (almost sand perhaps!) that seem to fall on a room floor. They are really very small objects, but then the ticking, separated by long pauses of silence, amplifies with an echo effect, giving the impression that these tiny objects are bouncing in a giant space amplifying the noise, which remains minimal. It's difficult to describe in words, unfortunately, you just have to listen to it!!

The number 4 "Viher" is 16 minutes of "pseudoambient" sound digressions with a "gloomy" melodic loop that gives the impression the sound describes circular shapes in its continuous fluctuation. It is a haunting track in its repetitiveness, very close to the aesthetics of "Gravity Assist" by Biosphere.

Overall, I would say an excellent album that, to be reductive, is worth the purchase (for those lucky enough to find it) just for the monumental track "Onko", a true noise concert for meditations in the silent and misty northern European landscapes, it is as far from what the music of the warmer countries (even climatically) can conceive! The other 3 tracks keep the level of attention high, especially the very "tactile" ones, Viher (num4) and Jos (num2) completing a very successful album!