Let’s be real: We all knew this post was coming. I am a self-proclaimed Todd Terje (pronouced Ter-YAY) fan girl, and the unofficial founder of the Todd Terje Fan Club. I also tend to use the hashtag, #terje4prez, more often than I’d like to admit and if you didn’t think I was crazy before, you probably do now. #realtalk
You see, it all started back in 2009, when I started listening to dance party music and heard his remix of Shit Robot’s “Simple Things”. It was love at first listen, and I haven’t looked back since. It takes an already amazing song and turns it into a dance floor banger, complete with Terje’s ‘signature synths’.
Fast forward almost five years later, and I was absolutely giddy when I heard he was dropping his debut album in April. I pre-ordered it on vinyl on February 14, 2014 (coincidence? I think not), and have been counting down the days when “It’s Album Time,” would be in my hands. Unfortunately, Amazon shipping failed me, so my first listen of the album from start to finish was on Spotify.
Upon first listen, I think it was a well put together album all around. It was everything I kind of hoped for in the album: it surprised me, made me want to dance, mellowed me out and ended in perfection. The introduction, “It’s Album Time,” may or may not have gotten a standing ovation from me as I waited in anticipation for the next song, with the “It’s Album Time,” on repeat in the background, slowly building up. It was simple and to the point, laying out the ground work for the rest of the album. I loved the element of the piano used in “Preben Goes to Acapulco,” paired with some funky bass lines that had me nodding my head along with the music. It flowed nicely into “Svensk Sas,” that picked up the tempo for the next portion of the album.
The only track that threw me for a loop, was “Alfonso Muskedunder,” where I felt like I was in the middle of some weird electronic show tune, but after another listen, it made sense as the album transitioned to “Swing Star, Part 1,” and it almost felt like an entirely new album was being presented. It was pretty brilliant and I think that was the point of the track. I was also partial to “Oh Joy,” as the build up sounded very 80s-esque and transitioned lovely into my absolute favorite track ever. I’m not entirely sure if it will ever get old. The cheeky introduction, coupled piano harmony into electronic ecstasy around 3 minutes and 40 seconds is entirely what dance party dreams are made of.
Overall, I was pleased with the album from start to finish. Is it like everything else he has put out? Definitely not – most of the tracks don’t have the dance-floor friendly vibe that many of his edits have, but that’s OK. Was it different than what I expected? Yes. Was I disappointed? No, I think it shows how dimensional Terje really is, and the different types of music that have influenced his career as a DJ and producer.
#terje4prez
