Tomutonttu - Elavana Planeetalla

This LP is out on Matt Mondanile's (Ducktails, Real Estate, Predator Vision) New Images imprint so naturally it's been passed on to me for review. I'm feeling a little ashamed of myself as I've seen Tomutonttu's (“dust gnome”) stuff lying around the office before and have never really payed it any attention. Obviously I'm gonna have to backtrack and check out previous recordings as 'Elavana Planeetalla' is an absolute treat. Tomutonttu is part of the well respected avant garde sound group Kemialliset Ystävät and I believe this to be his third solo outing following two releases on Beta-Lactam Ring and Ultra Eczema respectively. Tomutonttu's work focuses on the microcosm, the most minute details of a sound. 'Elavana Planeetalla' may touch on the New Age of New Age (I call it NANA) sound hinted at by the likes of Ducktails, High Wolf, Dolphins Into The Future and James Ferraro but Tomutonttu's approach to digital far exceeds that of his lo-fi compadres and gives him the upper hand in creating ultra laid-back astral tunes. At its most focused and rhythmic it reminds me of Lucky Dragons but when the arrangements loosen up 'Elavana Planeetalla' has more in common with Sun Araw if he used sequencing software or maybe the more recent output from Black Dice, sans the abrasive techno beats. It's gonna need a few spins before I can fully absorb the details but on first listen this is some grade A astral juice, perfect for a baking hot summer's afternoon. Great artwork too.