Nuclear Winter Garden is the name of an intimate party night Jori Hulkkonen has run in his Finnish home town for the last few years, and it is the direct inspiration for this new pseudonym, where he wants to take a few more risks. It shows off a number of things, including the variety of indie and electronic music he plays at those nights, but also the recent collaboration Hulkkonen did with John Foxx, which seems to have left a profound impression. The album is notable for its stark beauty, and for Hulkkonen’s ability to transform what seems like minimal starting material into something genuinely impressive, often with deep and meaningful emotion. To this end the slowly shifting ‘A New Cold War’ is complemented by the sharper, acidic ‘Strangest Positions’, with its deadpan vocal and piercing sax solo, while the smoky ‘Red Magic’ has a persuasive rhythm too. All this is topped by the closing ten minute epic ‘Infinite Man’, a minimal piece of work fraught with foreboding tension and lyrics Foxx would be proud off. It leaves the listener in a frisson of fear – which can only be calmed by putting the first track on again. A really excellent, understated album that I strongly encourage you to seek out!
