No Hassle
WORDS: Tom Bevan (Sprout Editorial Group)
The Viennese duo that make up the soundscape chieftains Tosca have really pulled it out of the bag with their new album, No Hassle (the name itself describes the record perfectly).
The literal translation of soundscape is 'an atmosphere or environment created by or with sound', but the word has been reinvented with this mellow and yet engaging record.
Each track is carefully and lovingly put together and the way Tosca uses both digital and analogue ideas creates a fuller sound which penetrates throughout the record.
Since the band's first album, Opera, released in 1997, they have wowed the electronic world with their clever and harmonious tunes, many of which have featured in television and film.
This album, however, is a step away from their previous club-friendly records and is far more about contemplation and concentration.
The duo, Richard Dorfmeister and Rupert Huber were school friends in Austria and formed Tosca while Richard was still involved with the famous remix gurus, Kruder & Dorfmeister.
As usual, the album is constructed through Richard and Rupert improvising together in their Vienna studio, discovering sounds and layering them to form the final product.
"We love this merging of different things, without a concept, just because it feels right", says Richard.
This is yet another smashing piece of work by Tosca, whose soothing style is not only peaceful but heartwarming.
No Hassle is released on Monday 20 April on K7 Records. Amorously melodic and beautifully built, the album deserves a place in any chillout collection.
