Lindstrøm

Photo: Kim Hiorthøy

An artist who, in one breath, cites fret-shredder Yngwie Malmsteen, Can’s Holger Czukay, Queen’s The Game and disco-edit madmen Idjut Boys as recent influences enjoys our immediate attention. Norwegian producer Hans-Peter Lindstrøm already won us over with his singles collection It’s a Feedelity Affair and collaborations with Prins Thomas. If anyone made “space disco” code for knocking the stale tropes out of electronic dance music, it’s this bearded, laid-back ex-rocker.

With a stellar discography behind him, Lindstrøm could have simply stuck with the cosmic boogie he already does well. Instead, the producer sets out to completely stone our uptight minds on his first album. In just three tracks—the first clocking in at around 30 minutes—he massages elements of European disco, German motorik grooves, sun-dappled ’80s rock and atmospheric electronica.

In the first section of “Where You Go I Go Too,” we’re circling Lando’s Cloud City waiting for a docking station to open up. Only at the point of our utter confusion does Lindstrøm introduce a stun gun of a main synthesizer lead. Funky rhythm guitar, cosmic whooshes and hand claps come in and then at the 17 minute mark, heavy breathing, ping-pong lasers and the sound of children playing surface. It’s a dreamy trip.

“Grand Ideas” has morphing keyboard arpeggios and Jan Hammer–esque percussion. “The Long Way Home” seems to be just a reflective comedown, until it kicks into an easy disco-ified groove midway through. One thing’s for sure, wherever Lindstrøm goes, good things tend to happen.