Fennesz - Endless Summer (Album Review)

 

Fennesz - Endless Summer

(2001)


My copy: 2010 remastered reissue with bonus tracks by Editions Mego.


Christian Fennesz is an Austrian musician mostly known for his experimental electronics project that would see him collaborating with many other influential names in the ambient sphere. Endless Summer was released in 2001, and is a groundbreaking expanse of glitched out recordings and obscured synth melodies that helped launch Fennesz’s music to more international audiences. 

Intense distortion crumbles and rips through digital tones on “Made In Hong Kong” while pricks of melody peek in through cracks left behind by the earthquake of effects. All through the album bits of instrumentation vie for attention beneath blankets of glitched samples and translucent keys. “Endless Summer” is a notable high point with voices of digital aliens chattering amidst EQ treated acoustic guitar and sizzling distortion. As if by accident, the acoustic guitar on “Endless Summer” eventually shatters through the noise and the chords sing clearly yet warbled like a newborn fawn finding its footing. 

The vinyl pressings of this record feature bonus tracks and an alternate listing, “Ohne Sonne” is a bonus track that conjures images of icy satellites attempting to send transmissions back down to Earth with repeated beeps. “A Year In A Minute” sounds like the inspiration for Grouper’s early albums with ghostly vocal synth accompanying walls of fuzz; the tranquility of the track gives way to the longing of many robotic voices before returning to its initial concept. “Caecilia” begins with a stumbling vibraphone that would normally evoke disdain, but here it is transformed by buzzing electronics into what feels like a reflection on childhood. “Caeclilia” then bursts into a wash of shimmering tones like a city at dusk that is filled with flickering lights; this is truly a transcendental moment.

A more sinister sound takes “Got To Move On” in its layers while melodies struggle to stay afloat. Across all of Endless Summer Fennesz refuses to opt for the obvious choice most producers would make, which is to slap a bassy IDM beat underneath and play to the minor dance elements of each song. Endless Summer revels in its chaos, and our ability to find solace in the genius mixing and controlled rate at which melodies pop and bounce above the cacophonies. “Endless” was originally the closing track but it is shifted here for the vinyl release and is a simple ambient retread of the title track. 

“Shisheido” is perhaps the most outwardly coherent track with guitar chords that seem to challenge jazz. “Before I Leave” sounds like the score to a postmodern horror movie, with glitched repeated beeps that jarringly shift in an odd time-signature like a haunted telephone. “Badminton Girls” is a sloshy march through virtual trenches. Another bonus track is provided in “Blues” which gives a breather before the formidable finale. 

“Happy Audio (Forever)” is a masterpiece of repetition and transformative layering; this is only the closing song for the vinyl release but it works perfectly as an ending. Dark organ tones drone under a glittery melody that repeats until deep bass percussion slowly ascends from below the surface, ultimately filling “Happy Audio (Forever)” to the brim with dense waves of crackling sounds that bury the original melody. What began as crinkled distortion is transformed by its surroundings into sounds of pounding raindrops; the only thing actually changing are the surrounding noises, which allow the song to paint entirely new vistas. The final song caves-in near the end and reveals spooky wavering synths that close out the album. 

Endless Summer is a challenging record that seeks to brush off traditional structures in favor of pursuing something that is just out of reach. It's true that this record requires some patience, and at nearly an hour long it does contain moments of chaff that last a bit too long; however Fennesz has created something that is deeply engaging when studied and that truly has lasting power as an amazing electronic album.

    Though this album was only pressed in Europe, imports are still easy to get due to its popularity.  

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