Pan Sonic

Pan Sonic

Pan Sonic in 2006
Background information
Origin Turku, Finland
Genres
Instruments Electronics, samplers
Years active 1993–2009
Labels Blast First
Associated acts Alan Vega, Keiji Haino
Members
  • Mika Vainio
  • Ilpo Väisänen
Past members
  • Sami Salo
Notable instruments
MPC2000

Pan Sonic were a Finnish electronic music group founded in Turku in 1993. The group consisted of Mika Vainio, Ilpo Väisänen, and Sami Salo. Salo left in 1996 leaving Pan Sonic a duo. The group was originally named Panasonic until 1998. In December 2009, it was announced that Pan Sonic would disband after their December 2009 concerts.[1] Their final album, Gravitoni, was released by Blast First Petite in May 2010.[2] Oksastus, a live album recorded in 2009, was released in 2014.[3]

Music

Pan Sonic cite their main influences from the early 1980s, with industrial acts like Throbbing Gristle, Einstürzende Neubauten and Suicide to reggae, hip-hop and dub. Vainio often remarks that their music is a merger of these two schools of music, taking the harsh and pure sounds typical of industrial techno and spacing them out into longer, subdued soundscapes familiar to instrumental reggae and dub. The late outsider rockabilly artist Hasil Adkins is also cited, as well as country music star Johnny Cash.

Some of their equipment is made by third "extra" member Jari Lehtinen. These and other custom made instruments are responsible for creating the sounds typical to Pan Sonic's music. They also use samplers and an MPC2000 sequencer. Pan Sonic are great fans of experimentation and art performances and have done exhibitions and sound installations in museums. They have also made music for Rei Kawakubo's fashion shows.

In a musical form in which sequencing and recording music using computers is standard, the group is known for recording everything live, straight to DAT using home-made and modified synthesizers and effect units.

In the late 1980s, as part of a "sound performance", the duo spent 10 hours in a garage, exposed to low-frequency (13 Hz) noise at 125 decibels. They performed a gig in London's East End from an armoured car using a 5000 watt sound system allegedly "similar" to the type used by the police to disorient rioters.

History

Formed in 1993 as a techno group, with extra member Sami Salo (who later left the group). They moved to operate from a base in Barcelona to escape the long Finnish winters. At the moment Mika Vainio lives in Berlin, with Ilpo Väisänen having returned to Kuopio. Their first 12" was released on Finland's Sähkö Recordings.

Originally, the band was called Panasonic, but the corporation of the same name threatened legal action unless it was changed. The conflict was resolved, and the duo removed the "a" from their name to become "Pan Sonic". The missing "a" lives on as the title of their 1999 album.

In December 2009 news of the duo splitting was announced on PhinnWeb – with Mika and Ilpo continuing with their own solo projects.[1] In October 2013 a new Pan Sonic album titled Oksastus was announced.[4] It is a live album recorded at a concert in Kiev, Ukraine on June 6, 2009. It was on February 20, 2014.[3]

Pan Sonic created a soundtrack for the 2015 documentary called Return of the Atom directed by Mika Taanila and Jussi Eerola. The film examines the construction of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant in Finland. Return of the Atom premiered in Toronto International Film Festival in 2015 and it will be seen in cinemas in Finland starting November 6, 2015.

Discography

Pan Sonic discography
Studio albums 12
Live albums 8
Compilation albums 1
Video albums 1
EPs 8

Studio albums

Year Title Label Note
1995 Vakio Blast First (lit. "constant")
1997 Kulma Blast First (lit. "angle" or "corner")
1998 Endless Blast First with Alan Vega as Vainio Väisänen Vega
1999 A Blast First
2001 Aaltopiiri Blast First (lit. "wave circuit")
2004 Kesto (234.48:4) Blast First (lit. "length" or "endurance")
2005 Resurrection River Mego with Alan Vega as VVV
2005 Nine Suggestions Allquestions with John Duncan as Duncan/Vainio/Väisänen
2007 Katodivaihe Blast First Petite (lit. "cathode phase")
2010 Gravitoni Blast First Petite (lit. "graviton")
2010 Synergy between mercy and self-annihilation overturned Blast First Petite with Keiji Haino
2016 Atomin paluu Blast First Petite soundtrack

Live albums

Year Title Label Note
2000 Mort aux vaches Mort Aux Vaches with Charlemagne Palestine
2000 Frost 79° 40' FM 4.5.1 with Andreas Ammer and F.M. Einheit
2001 05/10/995 Jenny Divers
2001 19/01/995 20/01/995 Jenny Divers
2003 V Les Disques Victo with Merzbow
2004 Finnexport 2003 Spirals of Involution
2009 Shall I download a blackhole and offer it to you Blast First Petite with Keiji Haino
2014 Oksastus Kvitnu

Compilation albums

Year Title Label
1999 X Blast First

EPs

Year Title Label Note
1994 Panasonic EP Sähkö
1996 Osasto EP Blast First (lit. "department" or "unit")
1998 Arctic Rangers Blast First
1998 Medal Blast First with Alan Vega
1998 "Kolminpeli (Live)" Evolurbain split with Vodershow
1999 B Blast First
2001 Motorlab #3 Kitchen Motors with Barry Adamson
2009 "Che" Blast First Petite with Sunn O)))

Video albums

Year Title Label Note
2008 Kuvaputki Blast First Petite directed by Edward Quist

References

  1. 1 2 "Pan Sonic News". pHinnWeb. December 1, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  2. ↑ "PANSONIC GRAVITONI". Blast First Petite. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Pan Sonic "Oksastus"". Kvitnu. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Legendary Finnish duo Pan Sonic announce new album Oksastus". FACT. October 1, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
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