Lackluster

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lackluster
Image:A-374-1167826649.jpeg
Background information
Birth name Esa Juhani Ruoho
Also known as Lackluster, Esa Ruoho, XLLV, Can'o'Lard
Born 26.10.1978
Origin Helsinki, Finland
Genre(s) IDM, Ambient, Downtempo, Tracker-music, Chiptune
Occupation(s) Music, Resonance Research
Instrument(s) Computer, Laptop, Synthesizer, Tracker, Sequencer
Years active 1994—present
Label(s) deFocus, Merck Records, U-Cover Records, SLSK Records, Psychonavigation Records
Associated acts Kökö and the Köks, EET
Website lackluster.org

Lackluster is the main stage name of Esa Juhani Ruoho, who has also recorded as Esa Ruoho, Can'o'Lard, Kökö and the Köks and XLLV.[1] Lackluster is formerly known as the chiptune musician, Distance, part of the demoscene groups Orange, Monotonik, Calodox, The Digital Artists and The Planet of Leather Moomins (TPOLM).[2]. Lackluster also ran a BBS, Cloudcity, from 1992 to 2000 - utilizing HectoBBS (1992), SuperBBS (1992-1994) and PCBoard (1994-2000) BBS Softwares.[3]

Ruoho has lived most of his life in Helsinki, Finland, but has also, since 2000, travelled to Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada for six months in 2000-2001 [4] and also spent time in Dublin, Ireland[5]. For the past 19 years he has been lodging in Kontula, a district of Eastern Helsinki.

Contents

[edit] Musical career

Esa Ruoho started composing electronic music in the mid-1990s and, after 2000 has been releasing recorded music (remixes, compilation-tracks, original work) on dozens of labels, full-length CDs on such labels as deFocus records (Great Britain), Merck Records (Miami, Florida, U.S.)[6], U-cover (Belgium)[7], Psychonavigation Records (Dublin, Ireland), New-Speak Records (Stockholm, Sweden)[1]. He is currently working with SLSK Records and Project Mooncircle.[8].

Several prominent IDM artists have mentioned his name as an influence on their work (including Miss Kittin & Bogdan Raczynski & Xela), and he has influenced and been influenced by both the IDM as well as the tracker scenes.[citation needed]

[edit] Live Performances

Since 2000, Ruoho has played numerous musical performances in Finland, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Ireland, England, Austria, Poland, Russia, Latvia and Estonia. Current tally: 91 live gigs (as of 2nd November 2007)[9][8]

[edit] Other Media Collaborations

  • Pauli Ojala (a finnish graphics artist) on "13/10/99", a short music video which was presented at the Assembly 2001 Wild demo competition, placing 4th.[10]
  • Company (website), "Kooded.com", providing an in-house shockwave animation with soundfx + rhythms (2002)
  • Wilma Mehtonen (a finnish choreographer) "Ulottumaton Symbioosi" (2002).
  • Halcyon (demogroup) DVD, providing in-menu composition(2002)
  • Wilma Mehtonen "T.43" modern dance-performance (2003).
  • Teemu Niskanen (a finnish photographer) on a web-slideshow project (2006). [11]

[11]

  • Thuyen Nguyen: "The Most Powerful Person in the World" - May 16th 2007.[12]
    • Synopsis: A love letter to video games.
  • Luca Barbeni (designer) on "dune.8081", a flash website, 2007.[13]
  • Mari Helisevä (painter) on "Luontaisenkaltaisia", an art installation featuring a musical mixture of kitchen-recorded materials, displayed at Maa-Tila, Helsinki, Finland, 9th to 20th January 2008.[14]
  • Thuyen Nguyen: "Same as it ever was" - February 29th 2008.[12]
    • Synopsis: Video game critics use the same arguments against gaming as they did for movies, television, comics, books.

[8]

  • scheltema/van beem NEPCO/ILC: "Headfooters", 2008[8]
    • Synopsis: Cutesy headfoot monsters jump around to the sound of "Hugytrak" off of Lackluster: Slice (released on U-Cover)

[edit] Other Interests

Ruoho also has a striking interest in the thoughts, discoveries and concepts of Walter Russell, Buckminster Fuller, Thomas Henry Moray, Nikola Tesla, Viktor Schauberger, Wilhelm Reich, John Keely, John Bedini and any related nature and intuition-based information, such as Earthship technology, the Dymaxion_map, Dymaxion Chronofile, and the Akashic Records. .[8]

[edit] Discography

  • 2000 - EP - "FOC349" (LP) deFocus
  • 2000 - Album - "Container" (CD,LP) deFocus
  • 2000 - EP - "R U Oho?" (LP) deFocus
  • 2000 - EP - "Rikos005" (LP) Rikos Records
  • 2001 - Album - "Spaces" (CD) U-Cover (as Esa Ruoho)
  • 2001 - EP - "Spaces" (LP) Inc.US (as Esa Ruoho)
  • 2001 - EP - "Zealectronic Purple" (LP) Zeal
  • 2002 - EP - "A Lackluster Sampler" (LP) Merck
  • 2002 - EP - "Wrapping Album Sampler" (LP) deFocus
  • 2002 - Album - "Wrapping" (CD,LP) deFocus
  • 2003 - Album - "Showcase" (CD) Merck
  • 2004 - EP - "Showcase Sampler" (LP) Merck
  • 2004 - Album - "Remixselection_one" (CD) Psychonavigation
  • 2004 - EP - "R U Oho?" (LP) Merck
  • 2005 - Album - "Slice" (CD) U-Cover
  • 2005 - Album - "What You Want Isn't What You Need" (CD) Newspeak Records
  • 2007 - EP - "Repulsine EP" (CD) SLSK Records

[1]

[edit] List of artists remixed by Lackluster

Ceniq, OTR, Beck (illicit), Thug, Laurent Garnier (illicit), Marumari, Machine Drum, Multiplex, Proem, Ilkae, Sleepy Town Manufacture, EEDL, Korpi Ensemble, Manta, (env)Itre, Kschzt, Blamstrain, Antennae, Global Goon, Tiki Obmar, Diskreet, Paolo Veneziani, Keef Baker, Joseph Auer, Anne Garner, Elephant Pixel, RA-X, Kilowatts, Aleksi Eeben, Strand & Non-Genetic (1/3 of Shadowhuntaz), HECQ.[1][8]

[edit] List of artists who have remixed Lackluster

Bauri, Brothomstates, Esem, Xhale (Erik Skodvin, Deaf Center), Sense.[1][8]

[edit] List of collaborations/appearances

  • Brothomstates: Kobn-Tich-Ey: Mr. Y (ringmodulated beginning scream)
  • Brothomstates: Claro (brothomstates ipxen) (original song)
  • Blamstrain: Disfold (additional electronics)

[1][8]

[edit] Name

Lackluster is taken from "Pyramids" by Terry Pratchett (Discworld series), encountered 1996-1997.[15]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Esa Ruoho at Discogs.com
  2. ^ TPOLM roster, monotonik roster, Pouet.NET, Distance/Orange Demography
  3. ^ private communique with artist
  4. ^ Grooves Magazine #5, FAQT Magazine #5, Zealectronic Purple Biography
  5. ^ 2005 hotpress interview, Foggy notions interview (2005)
  6. ^ merck records website, numerous interviews
  7. ^ U-cover website
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Lackluster website
  9. ^ Lackluster gig map
  10. ^ Assembly website
  11. ^ a b teemu niskanen site
  12. ^ a b [httP://www.devinquest.com devinquest.com]
  13. ^ 8081.com
  14. ^ maa-tila
  15. ^ private communique

[edit] External links

Languages