Todd Terje | It’s Album Time [ALBUM REVIEW]

Prior to this album, Todd Terje released Spiral, a two-track EP whose songs were a little too ambitious, and while being well produced, I couldn’t sit myself down to enjoy it as much as his previous work. The news of a debut album had me a little weary of what he could offer but I was delighted to hear my reservations be crushed by the sonic force of Terje. After the runaway success of the 2012 single, “Inspector Norse,” a full-length release was sure to follow. After almost two years, Terje’s cheekily titled It’s Album Time is a masterful blend of playful, retro-synthesized sounds and his clever incorporation of different musical styles from Bossa Nova, eighties pop, and funk, creates a unique and inviting listening experience. Radiating throughout the album is a theme of fun and leisure that takes off on a ride of glistening arpeggios, opening filters, and growling oscillators from extinct analog hardware. Synth geeks, rejoice—this is your album. Terje finishes strong with “Inspector Norse”, the song that put him on the radar of musicians to watch. This album, combined with his extensive discography and shimmering productions, means Todd Terje is shaping up to be one of music’s next super producers.