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May 06, 2015 Todd Rundgren, Emil Nikolaisen, & Hans-Peter Lindstrøm By Kenny S. McGuane

It’s been nearly three years since Norwegian intergalactic disco mastermind Hans-Peter Lindstrøm graced the world with a batch of new sounds. He delivered a double whammy back in 2012 with the release of two dramatically different LPs, one of which—Six Cups of Rebel—was a super strange and utterly charming electro prog romp, while the other—Smalhans—was a much more Lindstrøm-y outer space disco type thang. Now he’s back and busier than ever. In addition to a series of brand new singles slated for release this year on his own Feedelity imprint, Lindstrøm has teamed up with Todd Rundgren and Emil Nikolaisen (of Norway’s Serena-Maneesh) for Runddans.

Paul Lester over at MOJO says this is the record “Todd-heads have been waiting 40 years for.” That’s probably true, but one shouldn’t take that to mean that this is just Rundgren’s record. Runddans is the bizarre and dazzling result of true collaboration, experimentation, and improvisation. One song, 39 minutes, broken up into 12 little vignettes, it’s one part American avant-garde art rock, and two parts Norwegian electronic studio wizardry. Publicity materials for Runddans calls it “a cosmic mix of soul, synth, pop, and disco.” But that’s misleading. Quite. If you’re looking for some hybrid of Rundgren’s “Hello It’s Me” and Lindstrøm’s “I Feel Space,” then look elsewhere. This is dense, meditative stuff that pays no respect whatsoever to any traditional pop, soul, rock, or disco song structures. So in that sense the 12 movements of Runddans aren’t pieces of a song at all, at least not any kind of “song” we’re used to hearing. This is 39 minutes of three musical visionaries spreading their wings and breaking down barriers. Runddans defies categorization.

(www.smalltownsupersound.com)

Author rating: 8/10