Vladislav Delay

A Helsinki producer whose "clicks + cuts" style of ambience makes for easy comparison to countrymates Pan Sonic, Vladislav Delay (real name: Sasu Ripatti) has recorded excellent work for three of Europe's most challenging electronic labels: Chain Reaction, Mille Plateaux, and Thomas Brinkmann's Max.Ernst. He grew up trained in jazz and still counts Philly Joe Jones -- the fiery drummer for the first Miles Davis Quintet -- one of his prime influences. Also before entering the world of electronics, Delay took side trips through the music of the globe (Brazilian, Cuban, African). After a few failed experiments with fusing electronics in a band environment, he began producing on his own and grew to love the mid-'90s developments by German labels Chain Reaction, A-Musik, Mille Plateaux, and others.

After a series of experimentations during 1996-1997 (later released, as by Conoco, on the Kemikoski full-length), his first release was the Kind of Blue EP, released in 1998 on his Huume label. During 1999, Delay released singles on Max.Ernst and Chain Reaction, leading to his album debut, Ele, on the Australian label Sigma Editions. In early 2000, two more full-lengths followed; first, Chain Reaction released Multila, then Entain appeared on Mille Plateaux. Before the end of the year, Delay had debuted a housier incarnation, Luomo, with the Vocalcity LP for Forcetracks. Anima (2001), Demo(n) Tracks (2004), The Four Quarters (2005), and Whistleblower (2007) were followed by two 12" remix singles based on the album track "Recovery Idea." He also released another Luomo album called Convivial, as well as its follow-up remix 12" for "Love You All." To top it all off, Delay issued a new recording of his propulsive tech-house project Uusital entitled Karhunainen.

Vladislav Delay's Tummaa full-length was released in 2009, as well as the final part of the "Recovery Idea" series of remixes and the "Tessio" single from Convivial; a subsequent remix of the track by Ramon Tapia was released later in the year. Ripatti's 2011 was no less prolific. In May, the full-length self-titled band recording Vladislav Delay Quartet was issued on Honest Jon's, followed by the solo Delay release of Vantaa later in the year on Raster-Noton. He also appeared on the Moritz Von Oswald recording Horizontal Structures, and released another Luomo single entitled "Good Stuff." ~ John Bush, Rovi