Fotoshop – Lifeforms

Jenn Cohen | December 1, 2011 | 0 Comments

by Sal Christ

Jarno-Erik Faarinen’s latest musical project, Fotoshop, is much like the homophone with which it shares its name: It takes something that’s already beautiful and enhances it. Self-released via BandCamp, Fotoshop’s first full-length album Lifeforms is a lush twist on nineties Synthpop meets Glitch meets Classical. A departure from his more Indie Rock-inclined band, At The End, Lifeforms proves that Faarinen’s composing abilities are vast and successfully experimental. The ten-track record is an atmospheric trip through layers and layers of sound.

“Too Little, Too Late,” the first single from the album, flaunts Faarinen’s distinct vocals on top of very danceable clicks and cuts beat. Another similarly accessible track is “New Me,” which epitomizes the chillwave genre as it slinks along slowly with dreamy vocals and a dark, distorted percussion.

However, Faarinen’s best work shines on the track, “My Own Tree,” which immediately calls to mind the scoring work of both Brian Eno and John Murphy. Although only two minutes long, the song captures a cinematic quality absent in the work of many artists outside of the Classical world. Purely instrumental, it would fit perfectly as the soundtrack to a sunrise after a storm or other dramatic rebirth.

A delicious ride from beginning to end, Lifeforms takes the best of electronic “noise” and turns it into music. Though currently unsigned, it would be surprising if Fotoshop remained so in the near future – Faarinen’s talents are that good.