When news dropped of Boris Blank’s third solo record, the details sounded anything but promising. The synth wizard from Yello, regarded for decades as one of the key pioneers of electronic music, had composed an album for spas – music to accompany eucalyptus steam in the mixed sauna, interspersed by the chirping of exotic birds on the loudspeaker.
No joke. This new LP, called “Resonance”, contains 12 tracks produced as part of a project commissioned by Fortyseven, a thermal spa based in Baden in the canton of Aargau. Blank has stuck closely to his brief. Instead of the unmistakable percussive rhythms and synthesisers of Yello to which we have grown accustomed, Dieter Meier’s sidekick arranger is now venturing into the ethereal world of ambient. According to the record company, the 12 pieces are “meditative sounds for wellness and relaxation”. Blank says that his “affinity to wide-open spaces like factory floors, underground garages and mountain landscapes, and to the acoustic resonance within these spaces” inspired him to make the album.
The result? “Resonance” is indeed much more ambient than anything you will have heard from Boris Blank or Yello. Only rarely do the usual pumping beats come to the fore (see opener “Vertigo Heroes”). The title track has a pleasing retro vibe but falls down slightly on account of its kitschy piano melody. Compositions like “Ninive”, “Najade”, “Mirage” and “Time Bridges” meander for minutes on end but suggest a certain esoteric indulgence. Infinite soundscapes evoking fluffy white clouds and a bright blue sky, on the other hand, have the desired meditative effect. Perfect for any spa.
“North of Eden” finally gives us the exotic birds and babbling brook – the soundtrack to any self-respecting spa. But this really is overly ambient for one day. Press the stop button and play good old “Bostich” instead – Yello’s bright-eyed and bushy-tailed antidote.
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