If memory serves, this is the first time we have had an artist repeat on the cover of 1051 Magazine in the same week. But he is an artist whose work we love, past and present, and we recently had the pleasure to have an amazing conversation in which we took a journey into his past on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Moodmusic Records (you can read it here).

We are talking about Klas-Henrik Lindblad, better known as Sasse and also as Freestyle Man.

A few days ago we presented his current work as Sasse and today he has once again dug into that archive he keeps and brings us another gem from those exciting nineties in the Finnish electronic scene.

Going back to that chat we had with Klas recently, he told us how he moved from the coastal town where he grew up, Pori, to Turku, where he started to take off as a DJ and producer. And this new Freestyle Man EP has so much to do with those days… from its title, Ulasoorin Kukkulat, (the hills of Ulasoori if the translator serves us right), where Ulasoori is a district of Pori, to the title track that closes the EP, Porilaisten Marssi Turkulaisille, which if we’re not mistaken, means something like March from Pori to Turku.

 

In the credits we are told that these three tracks were recorded between 1991 and 1994 in Pori and Turku. And the most wonderful thing of all is that they retain an incredible freshness.

Just a Dream opens the EP, with a gentle intro that gives way to a melancholic melody and a little later to a full-bodied bass line and a rhythmic pattern that could be the perfect soundtrack for a sunset on an outdoor dance floor. The temperature rises with Kalafornia (To The Sky), with vocal samples and a bass line that immediately takes us to classic House, although with a very minimalist format in its conception, without unnecessary ornaments.

The release closes with Porilaisten Marssi Turkulaisille, with a sound that is Klas’ personal trademark in his productions. Aimed at the dancefloor, with bass that hooks you from the first beat, that measured and tight percussion and the beautiful melodic synth pattern that carries you through the whole track.

As we have said many times before, thank you for bringing back these gems. Let’s hope there are still a few left in that safe.

Release date, February 18th, available here

 

 

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