Lindstrøm : Sirius Syntoms
For over 20 years, Lindstrøm has blurred the lines between Balearic bliss, urgent Italo-disco, and Scandinavian euphoria. He’s worked with prog masterminds like Todd Rundgren, progressive technicians like Prins Thomas, and vocal wizards like Christabelle. And along with Todd Terje, the guy basically took the mantle from Georgio Moroder and rebooted space disco for the 21st century. In a different timeline, he would have reached Daft Punk levels of popularity in terms of bringing electronic music to the masses.
But at a fundamental level, Lindstrøm makes pop music—lush, dreamy, complex electronic pop music. And while he’s never achieved global dominance, I think he’s more than OK with that, at least if his new album is any indication. Sirius Syntoms should serve as the perfect entry point into his canon and the clearest representation of his style. Released on his own Feedelity imprint, this seven-song project runs for a crisp 35 minutes and features a strong collection of danceable grooves.
That’s really it! Nothing more and nothing less. In Lindstrøm’s capable hands, it doesn’t need to be more than. Sure, the songs mostly range from five to seven minutes in length, and they’re packed with gurgling synths, bouncing keyboard melodies, and clean drum programming that thrums along with four-on-the-floor insistence. He then adds punchy basslines and thick layers of glistening pads and strings to show off his tremendous touch for pacing and dynamics.
His pop instincts reign supreme, especially when you think of the album as two sets of three tracks with a short transition in the middle. This format gives Sirius Syntoms a day-into-night feel without resorting to stylistic cliches. “Cirkl,” the album’s lead single, opens up with a freshness that mirrors a stroll in the bright afternoon sun, while “Thousand Island Man” and “Moo)n” gently slow down to a welcome andante. With “Sharing an Orange (with Omar S on the Train from Minehead to London),” we enjoy a quick dinner amongst friends that prepares us for the rest of the night. “These Are a Few of My Favorite Strings,” my favorite track, struts with the carefree ebullience of close friends heading out to their favorite club. On “Solveggen! Nå!” and the title track, we get fun and flirtatious tunes ripe with a building tension that carries you deep into the night.
The comprehensive result draws deeply from the space disco sobriquet in ways that Lindstrøm hasn’t attempted in years. The album is extremely detail-oriented but remarkably uncomplicated. It overflows with welcoming energy, from the initial chill afternoon vibes and deep into the kinetic evening. It’s a project that proclaims, “Come dance with me! Let’s have fun!” And I can’t think of anything more in line with his musical identity than that.
Label: Feedelity
Year: 2025
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