Review Summary: pure bliss in the form of music.
2 of 2 thought this review was well writtenThere’s something aurally indicative about ceo’s debut effort
White Noise. While its title incandescently dabbles on the albums core theme it loosely translates the feeling to be heard. From its arousing intro number "All Around" filled to the brim with orchestral synth techniques and satiating “Ooo’s”, "Laaa's", and “Ahh’s” to the bubbly electro infused number “Love and Do What You Will”. The album from start to finish is the expression of a solidified joy that Eric Berglund, one half of the Swedish duo
the Tough Alliance, apparently has found. Vibrant and poppy numbers like “Illuminata”, not too far off from a Disney sing along, are somehow beautifully blended with haunting post rock resemblances all within either one song “Oh God, Oh Dear” or back to back tracks.
That’s not even the best part though; the little nuances found within each track are what make this CD one of the best events to behold this year. The sword splicing effect in “No Mercy” doesn’t invoke feelings of despair or agony, but actually adds to the bliss spinning off the track as if sharpening his joy and harnessing his anguish. The repetitious ecstasy implied with lead single “Come With Me” has a sexy bass groove over its soaring synth lines, and what I like to think are distorted baby noises coupled with some dub saying "I keep it riddled", all adding to the heliolatry nature. Speaking of worshiping the sun, the last track “Den Blomstertid Nu Kommer” is an old hymn in which one celebrates the coming season of summer, now I’m no scientist but one who’s this invested with producing over the top happy ballads must be on something – look at that album art, and didn’t I say something about ecstasy earlier?
All notions aside this is surely the most delightful CD to have plopped into my iTunes all year. It feels like a roller coaster that never reprieves its climb; now before you think about how boring that might feel imagine that coaster were taking you to heights you could only dream of, beyond the sun, moon, and stars, and into worlds that felt only accessible through 2-D pictures. Well now you can reach them through this.
