Olafur Breidfjord aka ILO is back on Rebirth with his first solo Album 'It's ok, don't think too much about it'. 14 tracks where the forward-thinking producer confirms his ability to shape something from the past with a totally new look. His definition of composing music is like a diary process, no ending and no restrictions. A selection of tracks ILO has been working on in recent years. An ecstatic alchemy of Chicago house, Deep, Detroit techno, electronica, Jazz, funk, and cinematic vibes.
It's the hi-hats. That's always how you know it's ILO. His light but crunchy hi-hats lead you in, followed by the heavy low-end of his grooves. It's also his love of hard-left turns, where the mood shifts completely, but this album isn't about that. "It's ok, don't think too much about it" is about locking you in completely. Where he can lead you on a 15+ minute house odyssey but you don't lose interest for a second. Ramping up with the ambient softness of "Lanzhou", he takes you on a journey through the musical landscapes of Chicago and Detroit, with detours through France but settling in on his own sonic landscape. This is ILO at his best and deepest, firing on all cylinders.
The first part of the album is an alternation of warm sounds and vibrating beats, deep synth tones and old-school house mash-ups to create a rich soundscape in which to immerse the listener. The second part of this work becomes faster and more dancefloor-friendly: a melange of propulsive rhythms, mesmerizing electronica and repeating pulsating overtones, giving a restless kinetic energy.
Inspiring stuff from a name who deserves the right consecration this year !