Mungodelics CD

Mungolian Jetset's Pal Nyhus, aka DJ Strangefruit, is one of the unsung heroes of Norwegian electronic music. While nowhere near as celebrated as compatriots Hans-Peter Lindstrom, Prins Thomas and "Todd" Terje Olsen, he's been the glue that holds the Oslo disco scene together for the best part of a decade. His project with studio don Knut Saevik is consistently excellent - and fittingly, their new offering Mungoldelics starts with a bang. Opener "Toccato" starts off sounding like a cosmic disco take on Steve Reich's Music For 18 Musicians, before morphing into a thrillingly Scandolearic fusion of spine tingling marimba melodies and trippy, darkroom electronics. There's much more to explore here - a string of collaborations (Balearic types Athana, Norwegian pop singer Unni and electronica/jazz fusionists Jaga Jazzist all feature), a handful of strange new pseudonyms (Knights of Jumungus anyone?) and the occasional original production. It's pretty much a brand new Mungolian Jetset album proper; it doesn't sound like anything else.

Andrew Pirie (Melting Pot), Juno Recommends CD Albums