Showcase

Finland's Eso ruoho is known for being on the mellow side of the IDM camp, with ambient, contemplative melodies gently flowing across earholes while downtempo beats shuffle assiduously in generally perfect electro step.
There are also amply rigorous rhythms that could inspire robotic movements across a particularly adventurous dancefloor. Fans of that style will not be disappointed with Showcase, as Ruoho chooses his atmospheres well, even if he doesn't exactly transcend the rigidly cautious boundaries determined by this cottage industry.

The seventh track, "Strateface," is especially infectious, sporting that bubblegum-funk Toytronic vibe. Because most of these songs are selections from previous releases on labels such as Rikos, Surgery, and DeFocus, there's considerably less filler to wade through than on some of his other full-lengths --most pieces seem to have been designed to be heavy hitters.

Ruoho is an above-average descendant of the general aesthetic handed down over the years from those seminal Artificial Intelligence compilations on Warp, playing carefully by the numbers.

Manny Theiner
Grooves#11
LACKLUSTER
Showcase
Merck

78 minutes of moody, crepuscular Techno, created in Helsinki by a man so confident in his own abilities that he chooses a name like Lackluster - hardly the most immediately appealing prospect in the history of recorded sound.

The artwork isn't particularly inviting either - meticulous drawings of a gloved hand dissecting a butterfly with a scalpel. But this selection, which gathers into one place pieces recorded by Esa Ruoho between 1999 and 2001 and released on various 7"s, 12"s and compilations released during that period, is shot through with sparks of imagination, suggesting that Ruoho's lowish profile, compared with fellow Finns like Brothomstates and Ovuca is undeserved, if altogether suprising. Lackluster's music is theoretically focused towards the dancefloor, but it's gloomy whispers and muted sparkles don't go out of their way to appeal to the 'hands in the air' brigade.

The more discerning, however, will find much to enjoy in the inventive rhythms and sweet clarity of Ruoho's melodic lines.

-Chris Sharp
the wire
issue 241 march 2004

Esa Juhani Ruoho, 26.10.1978, Finnish born and bred. The profile introducing Esa Ruoho, aka Lakluster, taken from the artist website, couldn’t more to the point. At just twenty-four, Ruoho is already a veteran of the electronic music scene, yet he has remained relatively unknown until now. This first release for American label Merck could well change everything. Already responsible for a string of remixes for artists such as Leafcutter John, Marumari or label mate Machinedrum, Ruoho has released four albums since 1999. With two albums for UK label defocus in two years and one for U-Cover, Ruoho is one of the most promising new artists to come out of Finland.
Ruoho’s interest for electronic sounds started at the tender age of six, when he developed an interest for the music of C64 and Amiga games. Progressively switching to ambient and the then almost-meaningful IDM movement during the mid-nineties, Ruoho released his first MP3s in 1998, with his first CDR album, simply called CDR#2 released on internet label Monotonik, before being snapped by deFocus for his next effort, Container, a year later. As more of his work started to appear on various compilations, Ruoho released two albums in 2001, one under his own name (Spaces – U-Cover) and his second for deFocus (Wrapping). Although Ruoho has collaborated with Merck in the past with a series of EPs, Showcase is his first full-length offer on the Miami-based label. Has its title indicates, this album showcases some of Ruoho’s work, in this particular case recorded between 1999 and 2001.
The striking thing with the nineteen compositions featured on this album is the wide range of sonic ambiences and genres, from the shapeless formation of interferences of the opening track, ironically called Tuneful to the classic electronica of the concluding track. Interestingly, there are a great number of untitled tracks here, simply identified by a date, a constant in Ruoho’s work pretty much since the early days. Sometimes associated with the seminal Artificial Intelligence series for his melodic approach to sonic environments, Eas Ruoho has certainly defined his own way of arranging beautiful soundscapes. Using relatively straightforward beat patterns as a basis for his compositions, he focuses on progressive sounds to create the primary structures of his creations, and then adds more subtle sources until each composition becomes utterly unique. From the hypnotic LL12 B3 Machine Drum and Haloaw to the sumptuous landscapes of LL7 07/05/00 and Mes, this album forever entertains and captivates.
Perfect introduction to the sound of Lackluster, Showcase offers an interesting overview of his work during his first two years as a recognised recording artist. If since, his sound has become slightly more ambient at times, it still retains the energy of these tracks. Esa Ruoho’s constant effort at creating beautiful soundscapes and arranging them in his own particular way pays off on this outstanding collection of classic electronica.

4.7/5

Showcase collects Lackluster's singles from 1999 through 2001 into an uninterrupted expanse of shadowy electro dotted with shining synthpop pearls of melody. Darkly chiming and pretty - if a bit outdated - and predating the irony-laden electro explosion, Lackluster's tracks are disarmingly sincere. The track dated "07/10/99" is jaunty and percolating, while "28/06/00" is long and naively lovely.

Selena Hsu

A more than aptly named album by the Lackluster and don’t get it wrong this is a share show of force. There’re 19 tracks ranging from world class electronica, to old-school sounding electronics and beyond. In the warm melodic vein of things the number two “LL7 01/10/00″, number fifteen “mes 19/10/99″ and number sixteen “11/11/99″ are all exceptional tracks. An interesting take on electro with a fairly harsh edge is number five “24/04/00″ or why not number fourteen “buzz”. With 19 tracks to choose from it just goes on and on and actually there’s something for everyone on the album. Produced by Lackluster between 1999-2001, compiled and released by those nice people at Merck.

Lackluster ist vielleicht einer der umtriebigsten Produzenten, die wir so kennen. Von Finnland aus infiltriert er Soulseek und alle anderen Download-Slots, lebt also im Netz der Netze, immer ganz nah an seinem DSL-Modem, weil es da so schön warm und kuschelig ist. Und ab unf zu erscheint sogar mal ein traditioneller Tonträger, so wie jetzt auf Merck. Esa Ruoho kann alles, glaubt er zumindest, drum weiss man nie, wie das denn nun klingen wird. Aber hier ist es einfach wunderbar. Denn auch wenn Lackluster sich gerne mal in unendlichen Ambeint-Drones verliert, blitzen in seinen starken Tracks unfassbare Killermelodien durch, bounct die 808 einen heftigen Boogie und alles ist prima. So auch auf Showcase, einer Zusammenstellung von Tracks, die, soweit wir uns erinnern können, alle schon mal im Netz kursierten und den klassischen Lackluster zeigen, ungefähr so, wie wir ihn auf seinem Defocus Album lieben gelernt haben. Mit einem scharfen Ohr an der Melodiemaschine und einer klaren Liebe für englische Beats, die als Direktimport aus Detroit damals mit ein bisschen Cider in den Schaltkreisen sofort eingebürgert wurden, droppt Lackluster hier einen Hit nach dem nächsten. Der komplette Oldschool-Killer.
http://www.m3rck.net
thaddi

While many of you are probably wondering which releases to snap up at the local CD/Vinyl bins, some of you realize that their are way too many “similar styled” electronic music artists making their way, once again, into your collection to rest and to collect dust until the next visit/rotation. It’s something that we’ve all (unfortunately) been accustomed to accept; that one or two tracks on any particular CD in the “experimental electronic” field are noteworthy and get continual rotation on your turntable/cd-player/mini-disc. It’s a sad state of affairs, but one we need to face as a reality. With the quantity of electronic music comes the downgrade of visions and artist integrity. A sort of lackluster approach to releasing as many tracks possible on an infinite amount of internationally under-appreciated labels across the globe. Is this a good formula? Do you really want to filter through 100s of releases out there? It happens everyday, but adjusting your seive to acquire the best assortment of musical bits is one of the best tactics in satisfying your musical tastes.

In the case of one Finland based Esa Ruoho who has been operating under the Lackluster guise for several years, some might tag his approach as pleasant, charming and rather melodic to say the least. Some may feel his music is inspired by the environment in which he resides, where a musical shadow of abstract frequencies are cast against abrupt beats and dark rhythms. It’s entirely up to the listener to feel these qualities, while the artist describes their feelings with the machines they have to work with. Lackluster is what it is, and just what it isn’t.

With numerous tracks released on independent labels on almost every continent, Esa Ruoho continually strives at reinventing his views, expressions and feelings to his audience with a sense of unity of sound, and clarity in this sound. Meandering beats that snap across waves of in-depth & mechanically driven rhythms. These are the sounds of Lackluster. Not an easy task to describe, and one to definitely seek out. Comparisons are useless sometimes, as there are many individuals whose sole mission is to create, recreate and nurture their thoughts into sound-escapes of electronic music. While this intention is a truly sincere move on the part of every artist out there, it becomes rather tedious to repeat yourself or try to reinvent your sound..

With all that out of the way.. now comes A Lackluster, Showcase. A culmination of previously released Lackluster tracks from labels like DeFocus, Merck, Rikos, Monotonik, and Surgery, and a few you’ve never heard until now. 19 tracks spanning through 78 minutes, and a stunning abundance of enriching electronic music for your ears. This is the sound of Lackluster.. a precious mix of melodic upbeat tracks that are packed with pure entertainment all the way through. These are the tracks many of you may have highlighted in past releases, tracks that truly inspire thoughts of beauty, reflection and inner tranquility. With this formation of musical delights, Lackluster creates a birds-eye view of the feelings he’s cultivated over the years and expressed with his music. Even with the pensive ambient flows that maneuver their way into some of the tracks featured on this disc, they are
contrasted by the uplifting percussive melodies & rhythms of others.

Lackluster, Showcase represents an accurate assessment of the fragile state of electronic music today. With the perpetual onslaught of genre’s trying to fill a void in the collections of international trainspotters, Merck records manages to release the best of Esa Ruoho’s musical discography without falling into one particular
style/groove/genre. Lackluster’s Showcase describes the assemblage of beauty manifested through one brain with the use of melodic tweaks, and layers of creative electricity. If you haven’t been able to locate every release Esa Ruoho’s put out over the past few years, than this compilation and/or best of.. will definitely bring you up to date to the classical sounds of this (sometimes) frustrated Finnish producer. Without mentioning any highlights or comparisons, we’ll leave you to decide the fate of the tracks described on Merck Records’ latest release. Place yourself at ease to absorb every emotive slice of electronics featured on this disc. Highly recommended.