In only a couple of years since it's inception, Type has built a solid reputation in the murky realms of minimal electronica with a string of remarkably solid releases from the likes of Andreas Tilliander, Khonnor, and Xela. Their newest offering pushes them another inch forward, with the help of Parisian newcomer Julien Neto. On 'Le Fumeur de Ciel', Neto offers 10 pieces of refined cinematic noir that hover about magically, often seemingly faded in in and out of the mix, like intuitive drawings of eternal themes with no definite or necessary demarcations. Simple yet impecable, digital processing remains subtly tucked in the background and is used almost exclusively to shape out melodies as fleshed out by pianos, strings and disintegrating synthesizers. An insiduously affecting record that would be well enjoyed in contemplative solitude, perhaps accompanied by the implied cigarette and a couple of glasses of Mary Mayans.Type page for Julien Neto
Having left Finland years ago for the more temperate climates of Berlin and Barcelona, Mika Vainio is finally letting some sun shine through his heart, likely made out of black ice, granite and pieces of vintage tone generator. His latest solo outing comes under his Philus guise (see artwork), on his native Sahko. The only other record under this name that I can clearly remember is 1994's Metri, which was a highly experimental release that made use of tone generator blips as melodic component for really minimal, rudimentary techno tracks, and which likely convinced the good people at Hardwax to keep the entire label's catalog in permanent stock ever since. Kantamoinen is far more sparse and atmospheric, in the majestic tradition of his eponymous releases. The difference is that here, Vainio makes ample use of synth pads and even organ to assemble truly monumental sound pieces that rarely exceed the 4 minute mark. With Kantamoinen, Vainio makes a bold step and re-invents himself (in his own way) with all of the grandor and none of the pomp. 
