Atomic Berries demonstrate that there are few better ways to make the pulse of adventurous Electronic music more mystical. The duo, consisting of vocalist Marjo-Reetta and song-writer-producer Mike Midas create one of their most distinctive signatures pieces in electronic music. Their album, Far Away, makes a good display of their range. First, there is the drums which are then accompanied with some jewel-toned synth chords that unspool like ribbons.
The duo fuse everything into nearly forty minutes of surging buildups, placid comedowns, and hard lefts. The album shows just how dynamic their modest toolkit can be—and proves, by extension, that they are stellar performers when they combine their skills together. Some records though, like “Humanoid” might feel more rigid than others with the crescendos being more forceful, the moments of chaos more tumultuous, and the transitions more drawn out.
Nonetheless, there’s little bits of flickering rhythms and textures that lend itself to mellow provocation. The production is what stands out, which comes across as a labored work that can be both interesting and listenable at the same time. With a favorite track such as “Passion for Life,” you get a tasteful mixture of electronic synths that circle around harmlessly. Occasionally, Atomic Berries do nail the mixture of engaging and effective, to create moments of itching disquiet that merit repeat listening.
“Alive” has unexpected melodic leaps that send a delicious shiver up the spine. It brings a gift for mystical melody and airy atmosphere that elevates the duo’s production above mere novelty. It’s not so much that there is little going on in the six-track album—some of the best electronic music is made up of very little. There are some truly noteworthy moments with new sounds and rhythmic inflection to put a spring in a step, intriguing melodies, and production trickery to capture the hearts of the most loyal enthusiasts in electronic music.
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