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I must admit, while I cover electronic music for Remix, EQ and HotTopic.com, the whole Nordic dance scene leaves me in the dark. I just know nothing about it. But if you are like me--a fan of the electronic genre and well versed in both old school (Plug, Aphex, Squarepusher, BOC, Portishead) and contemporary (Burial, Daft Punk, Chris Clark) styles--the Nordic scene seems to offer a wealth of artists in which to bury my always curious brain. DNM (Dealers of Nordic Music) market a variety of Nordic inclined dance heads, including the cast found on Nordic Dance Weekend. Hmmm. That title puts me in mind of hot springs and a thin blond waif (like the one on the album cover) indulging in all manner of illicit practices, and the music extends that imaginary mindset.

Featuring Buggewesseltoft, Stateless, Ralph Myerz & the Jack Herren Band, Cloud, Metropolis and other names both familiar and foreign, Nordic Dance Weekend succeeds in being more than another moronic four-on-the-floor dance comp. Sure, it's lounge music meant for the background of your brain, but once again, if you're like me (what a thought), lounges are usually so loud I end up listening to the music anyway cause I can't understand a word anyone is saying.

Yukijobo's "Supernova Sky" is typical of the Nordic Dance Weekend mindset. Over a mélange of slithering, naturalistic drums and glowing vibraphone chords an unnamed female vocalist sings of "holding my hands" and "coming with me," typical nonsense vocals designed to move you to the bar. But like the music of Crystal Method, Moby and David Arnold, "Supernova Sky" holds a certain cinematic appeal, a nod to old school funk synths and trendy/sleek butt shaking opportunities. But of course you're too cool to actually dance. You look good. You smell great. You eye that metrosexual at the end of the bar just long enough to confirm that he can never tease your flesh. Or maybe he can. Back to the bar!

Flower Of Cables's "Alright" runs the experimental voodoo down, sublimating happy barroom mating for insular cruising down wet city streets at dawn. The sounds are plush, lush, comforting and totally alien. A giant bass riff bounces around the track like a drunken spider, while the disco infused beat leaps and lurks ominously. Front and center lie androgynous Vocodered vocals and synths so sweet and tart it's like you've fallen into a virtual Dunkin Donuts. Midway through a jazz piano solo upends the track, supplanting Seal with Quincy Jones for a momentary blast of twilight nuclear fission.  

Yukijobo
"Supernova Sky" (mp3)
from "Nordic Lounge Weekend"
(DNM - Dealers of Nordic Music)

More On This Album

Flower Of Cables
"Alright" (mp3)
from "Nordic Lounge Weekend"
(DNM - Dealers of Nordic Music)

More On This Album

Embee's "Send Someone Away"; José Gonzáles soars: Jose Gonzales has lent his pliant vocals to Zero 7 and taken the bold step of releasing his own solo piano record. Here he elevates the synthetic sounds of Embee's "Send Someone Away."  Gonzales' voice is instantly recognizable, even if this track isn't, his fragrant, flowing approach half slacker/half daydream believer. "Send Someone Away" floats like white clouds on a summer day, not unlike the best work of UK duo Lemon Jelly. It bumps from casual and soothing to uptempo frothy; succulent guitars, dry beats and synths only highlighting Gonzales all too human vocals. Gonzalez could make the phonebook interesting, his vocals that unusual combination of carefree aplomb and big sister concern.

Embee
"Send Someone Away" (mp3)
from "Send Someone Away feat. Jose Gonzales"
(DNM - Dealers of Nordic Music)

More On This Album

Jazzflora Flies: While you're swimming in Scandinavia check out the Jazzflora comp featuring Soular Sound's "Things We Do." Recalling a Blue Note goodie from Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, "Things We Do" rides a swinging Latin groove, topped off with a Sarah Vaughan impersonator doing her best to make the proceedings fly like tailwinds from a 747. Perfect blissful jazz slumming. 

"Things We Do"