Kesto

Infobox Album |
Name = Kesto
Type = Album
Artist = Pan sonic


Released = May 18 2004
Recorded = Berlin, 2003
Genre = Experimental
Length = 234:48 (all four discs)
Label = Blast First, Mute Records
Producer = Mika Vainio and Ilpo Väisänen
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=A1zrc28gl055a link]
*Pitchfork (8.2/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/20720-kesto-234484 19 May 04]
*"PopMatters" (mixed) [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/p/pansonic-kesto.shtml 8 Jul 04]
*"Q" (favorable) August 2004, p. 116
*"Stylus Magazine" (A) [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=1992 17 May 04]
*"The Wire" (favorable) #244, p. 59|
Last album = "Aaltopiiri" (2001)
This album = "Kesto" (2004)
Next album =

"Kesto", released jointly by Blast First and Mute Records, is the fifth album released by Pan sonic.

Background and Structure

Since the 2001 release of "Aaltopiiri", Pan sonic embarked on an unusual world tour based on two adverts in The Wire magazine. Responders - either promoters or fans or anyone who is curious - had to convince them that their location was exotic and interesting to perform in and the only stipulation was that they had to provide accommodation and a percentage of the profits (if they were made for that night). So the group toured in many different locations all around the world for eight weeks. It would have continued for another four but Mika Vainio fell ill and cancelled the other dates in order to recover. (In the future, the group will only tour for only a few weeks at a time rather than as a long excursion).

During Mika's recovery in their new home and studio in Berlin, the two were contemplating their next album. They drew inspiration from Mika's favorite artist Francis Bacon and in particular, his inclination to create thematic triptyches. So they created three albums with three distinct atmospheres. Later on, they would be inspired to do a fourth disc. The album was recorded in Berlin in 2003.

The full title is "Kesto (234.48:4)" with the subtitle being the length of the entire album: 234:48, 4 milliseconds. A rough English translation means "strength" or "duration," referencing both the quadruple-disc album and the general abrasiveness of their music.

Each of the discs reflects elements of their style of music, with the dynamics and tempi generally decreasing throughout. The first CD consists largely of shorter compositions, reminiscent of the synthesis of pop structures and electronic noise found in industrial precursors like Suicide, while the second consists of less intense, electro influenced songs, using the same processed sine tones with more restraint and rhythmic consistency. The third and fourth CDs are more amorphous, the former incorporating Musique concrète elements and the latter is a single hour-long track that recalls early electronic composer Eduard Artemyev.

Each of the discs are in slipcases with photographs by Anne Hämäläinen gracing the covers.

Track listing

Nearly all of the titles have both the original Finnish and a rough English translation provided by the group itself. The following tracklisting is what exactly appears on the album. The disc lengths are also from the printed covers.

CD 1 (50'36)
#Rähinä I / Mayhem I
#Mutaaattori / Mutator
#Onkalo / Cavity
#Pakoisvoima / Fugalforce
#Louhi
#Rähinä II / Mayhem II
#Riimu / Halter
#Keskeisvoima / Centralforce
#Vähentajä / Diminisher
#Rähinä III / Mayhem III
#Lautturi / Rafter
#Painovoima / Gravity

CD 2 (49'43)
#Etäisyys / Distance
#Konnat / Toads
#Virtamuuntaja / Current-Transformer
#Tasmania
#Johto 5. / Cable 5.
#Valomuuntaja / Light-Transformer
#Routa-Olio / Groundfrost-Being
#Sykkivä / Throbbing
#Altistus / Exposure
#Telemiitit / Telemites
#Prospekt Vernadskogo
#Arktinen / Arctic

CD 3 (73'10)
#Viemärimaailma / Sewageworld
#Käytävä / Corridor
#Ilmenemismuoto / Appearanceform
#Pakkasen Holvit / Arches of Frost
#Selittämätön / Inexplicable
#Ilma / Air
#Koljan Uni / Sleep of Haddock
#Linjat / Lines

CD 4 (61'16)
#Säteily / Radiation

The following tracks are dedicated to the following individuals (or groups): 1.6 to Bruce Gilbert of Wire, 1.8 to Keiji Haino, 1.9 to Suicide, 2.8 to Throbbing Gristle, 3.8 to Alvin Lucier, 4.1 to Charlemagne Palestine

External links

* [http://www.phinnweb.org/panasonic/discography/kestopress.html "Kesto" press release]
* [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/pansonic/kesto Collection of "Kesto" reviews]