Albums might not be the preferred format of the up-and-coming artist nowadays, yet there are still talented people out there trying to make it work, penning cohesive LPs that offer a wider creative vision. Finnish musician and songwriter Markku Ruottinen belongs to such a group. Going by the moniker Neighbourhood Tower, he’s recently unveiled his debut album, a ten-track wonder titled ‘Channeling Darkness (Discovering the Light)’. Recorded and produced entirely by Ruottinen himself, the release also benefits from Pekka Tuomi on mastering duties.
As we dive into the record, we appreciate the effort that the Finnish artist has put into making ‘Channeling Darkness (Discovering the Light)’ a plastic, malleable record. Oscillating between epic pop choruses and guitar-powered nostalgia, the album finds a working compromise that feels elegant and relatable, a formula that always puts Markku’s vocals and lyricism at its forefront. As he confirms, AOR is a fitting genre tag. There’s also a fair bit of electronic influence, such as the kaleidoscopic and cinematic ‘Distance’. Elsewhere, the album also finds time for instrumental forays, like in the cryptic and dreamy ‘Outer Skies’.
Delving deeper into the album’s creative ethos, Ruottinen explains: “The goal has been to conjure up a kind of timeless and organic album experience. Spiritually, I consider this my AOR record, just with a more limited production budget. The biggest influences for this album would be Alan Parsons Project’s late 70s records, E.L.O., and among more recent bands, War on Drugs, Future Islands, and Flaming Lips.”
For anyone keen, a small C-cassette edition of the album is planned for later in the spring. It will feature unreleased tracks.
Recommended! Discover ‘Channeling Darkness (Discovering the Light)’ now: