This week we’re into the electronic artist /space disco fiend Todd Terje. Listening Party is a curated weekly column promoting music discovery and encouraging concert-going. Not only do we feature someone we’ve been jamming out to and whom we recommend to the masses, but each Listening Party artist has an upcoming show at a local NYC venue. Grab your headphones and read on.
WHO: Terje Olsen
PRODUCED BY: Himself
THEY SAY: “REMASTER OF THE UNIVERSE”
WE SAY: Dance-oriented Spacey Electronic Jams
FROM: Oslo, Norway
ONLINE: https://www.facebook.com/ToddTerje
LABEL: Smalltown Supersound
Recent Work: 2013’s Strandbar single
It’s time to go on a voyage, headphones in tow – there’s something quite Mario Kart’s “Rainbow Road” to a lot of 25-year-old electronic wizard Todd Terje’s electronic soundscapes. Terje is known for putting his own brand on every type of music he incorporates into his sound – whether it’s kitschy euro sounds, deep funk or Latin jazz. His recent LP, It’s the Arps, was recorded on the rare but infamous ARP2600 analog synthesizer, giving it a sleek sound all his own. His music balances the dark and the light of house/disco/dance music. While you have traditional tropical beats, the bass of the synth melody is always precariously bubbling over, but the ecstatic glimmering flourishes elevate the song to its dreamy state (“Swing Star pt 3”). All we know is that his unique style of electronic music is fun to listen to, fun to zone out to, fun to dance to, and that we can’t wait to see him put it down live. It’s gonna be bananas. And don’t even get us started on “Inspector Norse” – just watch the video below and read about the protagonist here. Todd Terje is playing alongside labelmate Lindstrøm next Thursday (September 5) at Brooklyn Masonic Temple. Tickets are $25 advance and can be purchased here. The show is curated by the ever-stellar BOOM Collective and Le Poisson Rouge.