- André Bratten may work in the shadow of studio partners and fellow Norwegian artists Prins Thomas, Todd Terje, and Lindstrøm, but not because his music can't stand on its own. More prodigy than protégé, Bratten carved out a corner of space disco for himself with a confident debut LP in 2013. This follow-up record, Math Ilium Ion, continues to build from that place in subversive and satisfying ways. It's all much darker this time around, with Bratten making nods to techno and noise alongside the usual house and disco.
Math Ilium Ion is billed as an EP, but at nearly 40 minutes, the record approaches album length. It has the scope for it, too. "Trommer & Bass" sounds familiar, tying big rubber-band basslines around hand drums, claps and a bit of stardust—simple stuff, to be sure, but with a hearty payoff. Bratten digs deeper into druggy undertones on "Yours Sincerely, André Bratten." It seems to use the feel of Jon Hopkins' "Open Eye Signal" as a jumping off point from which to sketch space disco in a moody new light. That kind of hyper-detailed, emotive dance music colors the EP's second half: "The Little Things, Fools And Kings" is a flickering ray of graceful melody next to the blackened grit of "Common Misconception" and "Minor Misconception." The Oslo producer shows a formidable range of styles here. He'll do well to continue Math Ilium Ion's train of thought onto the next album.
トラックリストA1 Trommer & Bass
A2 Yours Sincerely, Andre Bratten
A3 The Little Things, Fools & Kings
B1 Common Misconception
B2 Minor Misconception
B3 Intro