Ukkonen

Following his two EPs on London, UK electronic label Uncharted Audio, The Isolated Rhythms Of... marks the debut album from this mysterious Finnish outsider. Stylistically it's hard to put your finger on what it is Ukkonen is aiming for with this release, skittering as it does across several sub-genres of techno and house, but one thing that's clear is the quality. Consisting of five suites ranging from eight to 16 minutes in length, the record begins with "Three from the 4223," a syncopated IDM number that wouldn't be too out of place on a Clark release. But about a third of the way into the track it takes a surprising left turn, breaking down into deep techno with a bubbling bass line and then ending in dub-laden, Selected Ambient Works territory, which is then followed through into the next track, "Haukivesi Spirit." "Tellervo" takes another surprising turn as Ukkonen turns on the acid before the penultimate, and standout, "Humans, Knew in the Forest." Diverse to the point of giddy schizophrenia, this is an excellent and unique release that straddles the boundary of headphone listening and club music while thumbing its nose at both.