Jaakko Eino Kalevi – Out of Touch

Sometimes it’s very hard to switch off. Advancing technology, better connections to the internet and the prevalence of social media means it’s often all too tempting just to check your feed one more time. On his latest album Out of Touch though, Jaakko Eino Kalevi suggests that logging off and taking time away is essential in our modern world.

Thus, listening to Out of Touch can feel like taking a voyage into another realm. Kalevi explores a range of different styles across the course of its ten tracks while still maintaining a sense of cohesiveness. These broad horizons are often easy to sink into, especially when they delve into airier territory. The fluttering flute melodies and languid pace of Outside makes it supremely calming, while Conceptual Mediterranean (Part 1) hints at a very different, more relaxed lifestyle that’s compounded by its silky harmonies. Both This World and People in the Centre of the City lean heavily on glistening vintage synths.  

While Kalevi can often transport the listener though, there are also a few moments where the illusion is shattered. Ballad of a Cloud in particular doesn’t float along as easily as its title suggests, instead occasionally descending into a rather obnoxious synth line. It might be hard to resist returning to the always-connected world afterwards, but much of Out of Touch offers a momentary sense of escapism.

Listen to: Outside, Conceptual Mediterranean (Part 1)