The New Music

diskJokke En Fin Tid [Smalltown Supersound]

Need to know: The disc jockey in question is Joachim Dyrdahl, a Norwegian producer from Svelvik. Along with Todd Terje, Lindstrøm and Prins Thomas, diskJokke has helped carry Oslo’s thriving cosmic disco scene. He’s been playing the violin since he was five, studied mathematics for most of his education and discovered electronic music at the age of 15. Eventually he became a resident DJ at Norway’s club institution Sunkissed, and after signing with seminal Norwegian label Smalltown Supersound (Lindstrøm, Annie, The Whitest Boy Alive) released his debut album, 2008’s Staying In.

In a few words: Translated as “a happy time,” En Fin Tid never induces an urge to jump for joy. But there is an overwhelming sense of happiness and pleasure in diskJokke’s music, as if you’re unwinding on Cloud 9. “Reset and Begin” achieves just that, emanating a vibe so chilled out that it can calm even the rage of one Mel Gibson. “Rosenrød” follows suit with bubbling vintage synths piloting a groove for the rhythm section to join and evolve. It’s diskJokke’s instrumentation that sets him apart from his peers. With a live show that expresses his role is as much about being a musician as it is a DJ or producer, he uses En Fin Tid as a platform to showcase his musicianship. Any one of the songs – primarily the title track, “Big Flash” and “1987” – come across as if he wrote these to flesh out live. It’s an unlikely thing to expect an artist as such to be as considerate about performance as he is recording, but if anything these actions speak for the imagination a dreamer like diskJokke has to work with. Lucky us.

Best track: “Nattestid”

R.I.Y.L. Skatebård, Lindstrøm, Bjørn Torske, Prins Thomas

Rating: 8/10

Buy, download, steal or don’t bother: Buy!

Sample: “1987”

Website: diskJokke.com