Erlend Øye

Unrest (Source/Astralwerks)
by Tim Den

Just because you lead one of the best folksy electronica groups around (Kings of Convenience) – and gave Röyksopp their best vocal numbers – don’t mean that techno doesn’t still suck. What a shame that Erlend Øye has chosen the deadest form of electronica to make his solo debut with. The King of Electronic Geek Chic lent his gracefully sombre voice to a dozen global collaborations on Unrest, which on paper had me giddy with excitment… until I heard them.

Sure, the concept of creating each song with a different producer in a different part of the world should yield results of cross-pollinated loveliness, but what we have in Unrest is cheesy retro ’80s techno that was never any good the first time around. Heavy-handed synths and clap-track beats… how can you listen to this stuff with a straight face? I guess if you’re the kind of dumbfuck scenester who “ironically” smirks and wiggles to Har Mar Superstar, you might like Unrest… but then again, you’d be a clueless dipshit. Come on Erlened: We love you, we didn’t deserve this!
(104 West. 29th St. New York, NY 10001)