A

The follow-up to Kulma and Pan Sonic's third full-length CD, the obliquely titled A was structured in exactly the same way as its predecessors, the only difference being it pushed things further down the spiral of abstraction. Early on, the duo obliges with a few danceable cuts -- i.e., they are beat-based and thus suitable for the dancefloor, but they will challenge any rave-goer. Quickly things take a turn for the glitch, the click, and the buzz, as rhythm becomes an evasive notion, mainly the result of a repeated loop. But the shift from one pole to the other is not as smooth and eloquent as on the previous album. If anything, A is even more stripped down, isolating the listener in a padded room, in which faulty electrical wiring causes hums and buzzes to bounce around. But this level of abstraction remains more listener friendly than Ilpo Vaisanen's solo CD, Asuma, or Mika Vainio's collaboration with Carsten Nicolai. Compared to those projects, this CD shimmers with variety, clever arrangements, and general public appeal (well, kind of). Pan Sonic had a knack for teaching its audience how to listen, taking them by the hand to make sure they follow the duo's changing esthetic. Therefore, A is their most accomplished work to date, but not the best place to start -- unless you are already well versed in the music produced by record labels such as Mego and Raster-Noton. ~ Francois Couture|