I Shall Sing Until My Land Is Free is a relatively new label with four releases. The first two are ‘Shekel Of Israeli Occupation’ and Chechnya Over Dub’ by Muslimgauze, clear statements as to the occupiers, and the third is ‘Peace For Animals’ by Merzbow, of which “all profits from this release will be donated to Ukrainian volunteer groups UAnimals and Save Pets Of Ukraine”. This label aims to ” support Ukrainian resistance against Russia by donating all profits to self-defence and humanitarian foundations”. As such, I hope this label will have a short lifespan and that Ukraine will be free soon. Ilpo Väisänen, you know, as one half of Pan Sonic, the duo he had with the sadly deceased Mika Vainio, is from Finland, another country in eternal fear of Russia’s power. There is no surprise that he has a record on this label, making another statement against Russia’s war (and if you feel it should read ‘special operations’, I recommend unsubscribing to Vital Weekly) in Ukraine. The title would translate as ‘The Fuzzy Emptiness of the Wednesday Moment’ if Google translate did a fine job. If you are looking for some Pan Sonic-inspired beats, then look somewhere else. In this relatively short record (twenty-two minutes), Väisänen explores the world of modular electronics in part;y abstract sketches (the opening of the second side, for instance) but also more dub-like, slow rhythm (end of side A). Drones, tones and rhythms, but none of that dance floor stuff. I like the briefness of the pieces, each around three minutes, but cut in such a way that it is on track, moving through various phases. Towards the end of ‘Part II’, some flute-like sounds form a most surprising ending to this way-too-short record. But throughout this record, Väisänen experiments with (samples?) of acoustic instruments and modular electronics, creating a bridge between the abstract and real instruments, electronics and a human touch. As such, it works very well as a dialogue. Not that it advocates dialogue between warmongers and victims. Hell no! An excellent record, and a great cause to fight for.
Vital Weekly review for Ilpo Väisänen
