MUSIC REVIEW: Lasse Soundblaster - “On tapahtumassa räjähdys”
Right up front, I really like Lasse Soundblaster. I got to know him through his band, Pihka Is My Name, but there’s more to him than just the electro-pop duo. Since he and his Pihka partner, Henna Helasvuo, guested on Gathering of Geeks in its first season, I’ve been paying more attention to the other things he does outside the band. Well, most of it is on the production end, or at least was before the end of 2024, when he released the deeply catchy “PVC 1999,” which grew on me like a bad habit and became one of my favorite songs of the year. Unfortunately, due to a trip to the US, I wasn’t able to get a review of “On tapahtumassa räjähdys” done before its release date on January 23rd, 2025, but better late than never, right?
In case you’re new here, I often like to use this first paragraph to give a general personal history of the artist, so if you’d like to compare your favorites to mine to see how comparable our tastes are, this next paragraph is for you! After all, music is subjective! So, with that in mind, feel free to skip down to the next paragraph if you’re not interested in my personal history with Lasse Soundblaster’s music.
So, as mentioned, I learned about Lasse Turunen, AKA Lasse Soundblaster, via his work with Pihka Is My Name, back during the pandemic when “Everything Is in Between” was released. Since then, I’ve seen them a handful of times and been deeply impressed with the energy and passion in their performances. Their sophomore album, “Caller Unknown,” held up beautifully to the first release, but more recently, Henna has gone off to study in Berlin, leaving Lasse an opportunity to do some solo work. Well, he seems to have taken the opportunity, with a promise to put the original NES that he showed off at the studio to work, I was delighted to hear how catchy the first singles were, thus me wanting to check out this release ASAP.
“On tapahtumassa räjähdys” is a brilliantly fun electronic album that does indeed have a lot of chiptunes from the original Nintendo Entertainment System, though that’s far from everything that he’s using, I’m sure. It’s right up front in the first single, “PVC 1999,” which is a total banger that sings about wearing PVC pants and wishing it was 1999—a sentiment I can relate to, certainly. I was so enamored with this song that it took me a month or two to even start listening to the newer singles, because it was just so much fun.
So what to expect in this album? Well, incredible Finnish language electronic music, essentially. It’s so, so catchy. It’s also a fresh release to listen to quickly, at a playtime of just over 31 minutes, meaning it’s easy to put on, easy to enjoy, and easy to digest. It won’t take up too much of your time, but you might find yourself playing it a few times in a row just because it’s so enjoyable. If I have one wee complaint, it’s that some of the songs could have benefited from some more ‘90s flavor in the electronic sound, just for a bit of oomph (‘90s dance music was a thing, after all), but that’s a nitpick at best. The album’s great as-is.
The album starts with three singles, so obviously it gets off to a hot start. “Pieni valo puiden keskellä” translates to “small light in the middle of the trees,” which is pretty evocative, especially in electronic music—I love the way Lasse uses very technical sounds, yet thematically often explores very natural places (Pihka Is My Name’s music is very eco-conscious, for example). “On tapahtumassa räjähdys” makes brilliant use of chiptunes and is as catchy as its predecessor, “PVC 1999,” which is so much fun that it could be illegal. “Silppuri” [shredder] slows things down a bit and has a strong bass line with fun electronic textures, while “Brighton” slows all the way down to nigh ballad levels, while also featuring some classic whistling, not unlike “Patience” by Guns ‘N’ Roses. The chiptunes pick up fast and furious in the beginning of “Kaikesta jotain mieltä” [has an opinion about everything], though it evens out in the verses, only to explore some interesting vocal sounds in the bridge before yet another catchy chorus. “Homeinen ja tunkkainen” [moldy and stuffy] feels like a ‘90s alternative rock song made electronic in its ambience, which is a cool effect. “Kundit kondikseen” [getting guys into shape] brings back the catchy energy, with really fun electronic lines, while “Kotikylä” [hometown] is a more laidback track that mellows out the feel as it wraps up the album—a satisfying conclusion!
On the whole, this is a really delightful release that feels fresh and fun and full of good vibes. In a world (and more specifically, country) that’s extremely oversaturated in music, I have to adore anyone who feels unique and interesting, and Lasse Soundblaster has certainly done this with “On tapahtumassa räjähdys.” I enthusiastically recommend this for lovers of chiptunes, ‘90s vibes, and electronica!
Tracklist
Pieni valo puiden keskellä
On tapahtumassa räjähdys
PVC 1999
Silppuri
Brighton
Kaikesta jotain mieltä
Homeinen ja tunkkainen
Kundit kondikseen
Kotikylä
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