Few Nolder - New Folder [Album]

Planet Mu

Having listened to electronic music for quite a number of years now, I have yet to hear a Lithuanian artist of any real merit. With Europe being the birthplace of real electronic music and eastern Europe fast becoming one the most progressive areas of the continent, I was excited when I read the marketing fan-fare of Few Nolder, aka, Linus Strockis, from Viluis, Lithuania.

'New Folder' is the debut album of Few Nolder, on Planet Mu. It features a lot of “experimenting” with “off-kilter micro house” (other wise known as minimal). I must say though, this album contains some real electronic gems.

We all know now that when Planet Mu releases something, more often than not, it is of high quality, and Few Nolder's effort is certainly in that bracket. The first track “No Mo” has been released in 2008 as a 12” single, and by most accounts, has sold out. I can see why. It is a real slow builder of a track, with a lovely, wobbly,deep, understated bass-line that builds and builds into a beautiful dub delayed synth release. It really is a monster of a track and I am sure that since its release it has been turning dance floors inside out across Europe.

Electronic music, especially good minimal, has the ability to be powerful, emotional and very very clever, while only concentrating on a few elements. Few Nolder ensures that the elements he uses are emotive, clear, and deep. "No Mo" is one of my own personal favourite tracks that I have heard from the Planet Mu stables.

Few Nolder then moves through Minimal House, into Electronica, and then into some nice stuttered vocal-led House with “Pillow”, “El Snig” and “Fluttery”, before he turns things up a proper notch in the middle section of the album.

Tracks Five “Top” and Six “Chilka” are where we see Few Nolder’s dark dance floor orientation come to the fore-front again. “Top” begins with a giant shuffling techno rhythm that biulds until some gorgeous synth bells are introduced at about 3 minutes. After this, the song does revert to the more “mainstream” minimal house sound, but by then the damage has been done and the listener is well and truly hooked. “Top” is another big club tune and I am sure that when the single of this is released, it will be another big big club tune.

“Chilka” is another slab of good, solid minimal dance music and again featuring Nolder’s lovely ear for a sub bass line, and shuffling, percussive elements that twist and turn throughout the track.

Track Seven on 'New Folder' “Malyska” is another fine effort by Linus. He has taken an 80’s sound set and brought them well into the 21st Century. I am uncertain as to what genre to bracket this song into, a good thing for any electronic music. It has elements of Trance and strong elements of Electronica, with the overall effect of it being a solid solid track.
The last two tracks of the album “Skriek” and “Brenn” are when Linus returns to his now favoured Minimal House sound. He again brings the listener some lovely rolling bass lines, glitch style percussion and both tracks build slowly, effortlessly yet effectively. The listener can’t really help but feel wrapped up in the music. If you have it up loud, as I did, it will be hard to stop your heart and mind getting swamped in the full, round and deep analogue bass.

All in all this is a fine effort from a relatively young and new producer. I applaud his effort and I am sure as the years pass, we will begin to hear more and more from him. I personally can’t wait to hear some of the remix efforts on the upcoming single releases.

I am sure Lithuania is already rocking, rolling and raving to Few Nolder, it won’t be long until the rest of Europe is….

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