Vladislav Delay - Entain (2023 Remaster)

Album

2 Oct

In the electronic music sphere, opportunities rarely arise for an artist to look retrospectively at their work in labour-intensive detail, not just a rework or remix but a re-examination of their past work. The 2023 remaster of Vladislav Delay's Entain is one of these opportunities. Decked out with a new lick of paint to keep the two distinct, the highly celebrated Finnish artist returns to the start of his Vladislav Delay Moniker. The new artwork has changed the context in which you might listen to this album. Gone is the minimalist light concrete aesthetic, and beautifully abstract pictures of blue skies are in their place. This isn't just a quality-of-life addition; it fully recontextualises the record we're jumping into.

The music also takes on this new context, funding itself awash with emotions of freedom and adventure. For example, the first track, 'Kohde', which sounds the one time, could have been restrictive but has transformed into a lakeside train that turns into something much more surreal. It attempts to emulate how the mind drifts from perceived monotony whispers, along with more meditative instrumentation. The subconscious is asked to participate as it's brought more and more to the surface. This theme of emulating the mind continues with the first of the two 'untitled' tracks, which is earnest in presentation. There's an overwhelming feeling of spaciness, of an empty or hollowness. A sense of imposter syndrome washes over with deafeningly quiet vocals tucked away in the back.

Part liquid sun rays, part concentrated electrical energy, 'Poiko' blends wanderlust with high voltage frequencies. The blend strays between the rhythmic and abstract, becoming more jazzy and free-flowing. Using dubbed-out field recordings creates an uncanny sonic valley. Dub influences permeate every groove of 'Notke'. Rich thumping bass notes play a subdued yet fore-filling line that rumbles the soul. This stands out on the album and is a must for anyone into dubbed-out ambient journeys through time and space. Rhythmically spacious and circular, 'Notke' tells its way into the subconscious, capitalising on our innate rhythms. Top notch.

The vocals in 'Ele' are characteristic of what Vladislav creates within this album. The voice sits close enough to be recognisable but too far away to be understood. This through line is echoed throughout Entain, perpetuating a feeling of drifting. The final part of the story, the second untitled track on the album, is awash with warm, tender chords with a strange, sad understanding within. ‘Untitled’ feels like it's the end. It feels like it's wrapping something up. There's an uncanny feeling of fidelity, like leaving a holiday or the end of the weekend, Sunday.

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