Luomo

Initially, Luomo was just another of Finnish producer <a href="spotify:artist:5E3H2KyR31E2Dj3K6vIUe9">Vladislav Delay</a>'s many monikers, but after a few EPs for <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Force+Tracks%22">Force Tracks</a>, it became far and away his most celebrated and commercially viable. <a href="spotify:artist:5E3H2KyR31E2Dj3K6vIUe9">Delay</a> (born Sasu Ripatti) first began to garner acclaim in 1999, when the Berlin-based boutique label <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Chain+Reaction%22">Chain Reaction</a> released a series of experimental dub EPs bearing his name. The subsequent year, he began releasing music via another esteemed Germany label, <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Force+Inc.%22">Force Inc.</a> He adopted a pair of monikers for this work: <a href="spotify:artist:5RumXmX989Yh6mSWUIacem">Uusitalo</a> and Luomo -- the former attributed to his dub-techno recordings released by <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Force+Inc.%22">Force Inc.</a> proper (featured on Vapaa Muurari Live), the latter to his dub-house recordings released under the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Force+Tracks%22">Force Tracks</a> sublabel banner. Vocal City (2000) comprised the bulk of <a href="spotify:artist:5E3H2KyR31E2Dj3K6vIUe9">Delay</a>'s Luomo material, previously released on a series of 12" EPs. The full-length album quickly became a sensation, as did <a href="spotify:artist:5E3H2KyR31E2Dj3K6vIUe9">Delay</a> himself. In particular, the track "Tessio" attained anthem status and was remixed several times over in 2001.

When <a href="spotify:artist:5E3H2KyR31E2Dj3K6vIUe9">Delay</a> returned with more Luomo material in 2002, contributing "The Present Lover" to the <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Force+Tracks%22">Force Tracks</a> compilation Digital Disco, his aesthetic was slightly modified, incorporating more vocals and a more driving rhythm better oriented for dancefloor play. Released the following year in Europe and another year later in America, The Present Lover offered a full album's worth of this new style, and <a href="spotify:artist:5E3H2KyR31E2Dj3K6vIUe9">Delay</a> even took his Luomo material on the road, performing live in Europe as well as America. In 2005, <a href="spotify:artist:5E3H2KyR31E2Dj3K6vIUe9">Delay</a> inaugurated his own label, <a href="spotify:search:label%3A%22Huume%22">Huume</a>, and reissued Vocal City accordingly. He then released a new album, Paper Tigers, in 2006. This third album continued <a href="spotify:artist:5E3H2KyR31E2Dj3K6vIUe9">Delay</a>'s progression toward a more accessible style reflecting his affinity for modern R&B. Released in 2008, the relatively stripped-down Convivial benefited from guest vocals provided by <a href="spotify:artist:407nV5hO7mZap3UJdpTr4t">Robert Owens</a>, Cassy Britton, and <a href="spotify:artist:3Y10boYzeuFCJ4Qgp53w6o">Scissor Sisters</a>' <a href="spotify:artist:6prqlx3RqGdTYsXANXDCR1">Jake Shears</a>. A fifth Luomo album, Plus, followed three years later and continued <a href="spotify:artist:5E3H2KyR31E2Dj3K6vIUe9">Delay</a>'s balance between full-blown songs and tracks. ~ Jason Birchmeier, Rovi