Mika Vainio and Arne Deforce combine on new album

The Greek mythology-referencing Hephaestus will arrive in May via Editions Mego.

Former Pan Sonic member Mika Vainio (pictured above) is seemingly in the midst of a creative purple patch, with solo albums under his given name and Ø guise both released in the past twelve months in addition to Monstrance, the album recorded in collaboration with iDEAL Recordings boss Joachim Nordwall. Vainio’s latest musical endeavour sees the storied Finn team up with another respected musician in the shape of Belgian cellist Arne Deforce, noted for his interest in works deemed ‘unplayable’ but ‘performable’ from composers such as Iannis Xenakis and John Cage.

Due out in May on Editions Mego, Hephaestus has evidently been a long time coming, with Vainio and Deforce initially recording the six sections at the Vooirut arts centre in Ghent in December 2011, before returning to the music late last year to mix down the album in Brussels. Conceptually, Hephaestus will please fans of both Mika Vainio’s work and Greek mythology with the story of the Greek god of fire providing inspiration for the six sections, with Editions Mego describing the album as “a fascinating journey through the netherworld of human extremity presented as a combination of pure acoustic and electronic sources”. Those intrigued by the combination of Deforce’s rich acoustics and Vainio’s processed electronics can stream the third section “Acheron (River Of Woe)” below.

Editions Mego will release Hephaestus by Arne Deforce & Mika Vainio on May 26.

Tracklisting:

Section One: Phlegethon (Stream Of Fire)
Section Two: Cocytus (River Of Lamentation)
Section Three: Acheron (River Of Woe)
Section Four: Styx (River Of Rage)
Section Five: Lethe (River Of Forgetfulness) Or Oblivion
Section Six: Elysium (Fields Of Relief)