Televisio
Self-Titled
(Ektro)
Televisio play an abstract version of 80s synthwave and electro that is both quite familiar and strikingly odd. The propulsive beats and cinematic synths are there in spades, and much of the record could have worked to soundtrack parts of Stranger Things, but things get very strange on Televisio. For one, repetition is a constant, and rarely do the repeating motifs go anywhere particularly interesting. Then, out of nowhere, screeching anti-melodies will come that hurt your ears, many of which sound like phones ringing (not too many television noises, though). This jarring nature feels entirely purposeful. Take lead-off track “Ykkonen”, which does a good job of setting the mood until a rather hideous synth line comes in to disrupt your comfort zone. It does not work on this track (and many others), though this method does work on the more interesting “Kakkonen” and “Seiska”. The goal here seems to discomfort the listen with the unexpected, but the resulting noise is less artistic than annoying.
The band’s bio is full of art and philosophy school drivel about the “populist bourgeoisie” and how the “corporate protectionism leads to impoverished memes and genome alike as the human being disappears in the dark yard of kindergarten”. This gets at the biggest problem with Televisio as an album. The baseline electronic aspects are sound and fine on their own, but the addition of the avant-garde (read: awful attempts at purposefully off-putting dissonant melody) results in a markedly uneven and unremarkable listening experience. It’s not that a lack of talent exists; more that the intentional infusion of artistic expression just doesn’t work out for Televisio.
