Jori Hulkkonen – Oh But I Am

Finland’s one and only Jori Hulkkonen returns with a brand new solo artist album this summer on My Favorite Robot Records, here the label offers up a taste of what to expect with this superb 4 track vinyl sampler…

The multi talented Jori Hulkkonen has been helping shape the landscape of electronic music for 20 years nows, releasing a series of critically acclaimed albums and singles on definitive labels such as Laurent Garnier’s F Communications, Tiga’s Turbo and the ever excellent My Favorite Robot Records.

In recent years Hulkkonen has explored alternative sides to his musical canon, namely through his recordings as Sin Cos Tan, Third Culture and most recently with his avant garde work as Nuclear Winter Garden. Now he returns with his first solo LP under his own name in almost 6 years. ‘Oh But I Am’ is set to explore the more melodic and charged side of Jori’s sound with a direction that straddles home listening and club influences in perfect harmony. This four track sampler gives a clear view of the LP’s feel, opening with the wonderful slo-mo workout of ‘Black Books’ a track that marries balaeric beats, live trumpets, warm immersive synths and Jori’s ethereal vocals.

Next up we have the beautifully contructed ‘Ready Player One’ which sees Hulkkonen steer deep into 80’s soundtrack influenced territory with a recording that brings together emotive piano chords, heavily effected vocals and soaring guitars over a rolling rhythm section that could have come straight from the production hands of Trevor Horn or Martin Rushent.

Penultimate cut ‘Songs of the Eastern World’ sees the Finnish producer take things into more club orientated terrain with a synth driven 4/4 instrumental track that delivers perfectly. The sampler closes with the truly uplifting and emotional ‘Italian Love Affair’ which sees Hulkkonen’s production coloured by the 80s once again as the artists vocals weave their way through arpegiated bass, staccato drums and soaring synth lines, sterling stuff!

This is a superb selection of songs from what will surely be a highly anticipated album from Finland’s finest.