Pan Sonic knew their newest album Gravitoni would be their final album well before its recent release date (hence clever final song title “Pan Finale”). Fittingly, Gravitoni continues on the trail of experimental electronica Pan Sonic have followed, and often blazed, for over 15 years, with more emphasis on the experimental than the electronica. In fact, some tracks are borderline industrial and sound like pissed off versions of instrumental Nine Inch Nails songs. However, other songs go in an opposite way and are much more minimalist and ambient. What all the songs on Gravitoni have in common, though, are harsh tones, and the result is an album that, while interesting, is not something many music fans will listen to regularly.
Gravitoni can be roughly split up into two sections: the first section features the more industrial-electronic tracks, while the second is, for the most part, surprisingly ambient given the preceding section. The backbone of the first six tracks is made up of martial drum beats. Each of these songs also feature harsh noises and tones—certain parts of “Voltos Bolt,” for example, sound like a chainsaw attempting to cut through sheet metal. The pieces walk a fine line between interesting and overwhelming, and it was good planning on Pan Sonic's part to give their listeners a break on the album’s second half. After the crushing oppressiveness of the first six songs, the next four ambient tracks are downright calming (though even they consist of dissonant noises at times—just quieter ones). Final track, “Pan Finale,” is easily the most accessible on the album and, not surprisingly, the only track that can't easily be placed in either previous camp. “Pan Finale” is a surprising conclusion to an album of experimental-leaning electronica, proving that Pan Sonic could probably make an accessible album but would rather push the envelope instead.
Gravitoni proves that Pan Sonic never stopped creating new and unusual sounds even at the end of their long career. However, forward-thinking and original albums don't always make the most listenable ones. Gravitoni is not an album to throw on while grilling burgers in the summer sun or dancing at a club. The album's best suited for a solitary listening experience, most likely in a pitch black room—there aren't really any other moods that go well with Gravitoni. But for those in slightly angrier states, Gravitoni may suit your tastes just fine.
Track List:
1. Voltos Bolt
2. Wanyugo
3. Fermi
4. Corona
5. Radio Qurghonteppa
6. Trepanointi/Trepanation
7. Vainamoisen Uni/Dream of Vainamoinen
8. Suuntaa-Antava/Indicational
9. Hades
10. Kaksoisvinokas/Twinaskew
11. Pan Finale
