Frau Blau - Paresse’s ‘Alchemy Trax’ | An Odyssey of Sounds

The rapidly expanding label Frau Blau has recently welcomed Swedish producer, Paresse, to their already rich catalogue of music with his newest album titled ‘Alchemy Trax’, released on 29 November 2021. 

Ivan Berggren, aka Paresse, is an up-and-coming Swedish music producer from Stockholm who has already cut his teeth producing tracks for labels such as Eskimo Recordings, Magic Feet and Correspondant. His sound is instantly recognisable and truly unique, as it draws upon a multitude of genres from dub, to Italo disco, to electronica and beyond. 

Frau Blau continues to impress with this sublime release, proving once more why they are currently one of the most impressive labels in the electronic world as their reputation of producing phenomenal talent proceeds them. This latest addition sees Paresse’s debut with the label as we are treated to the producer’s dreamy creations that come from many different places across the musical spectrum. ‘Alchemy Trax’ is a timeless and provocative listen. 

‘Alchemy Trax’ opens with the atmospheric Alchemy. We are immediately met with a sense of urgency as a hurried refrain is accompanied by a steady, pulsating baseline. The eery glissando alongside the added synths gives the track an other-worldly feel, contributing to a rich but mystical soundscape that makes the listener feel as though they’ve been transported to some vast landscape on a distant planet. For me, this wouldn’t be too out of place as a soundtrack for an epic sci-fi as Paresse skilfully builds tension in this opening track, preparing the audience for what will not just be an simple listening experience, but rather an entire universe, built from the sounds that he creates.

The following track, Skyfallet, is less urgent than its predecessor but maintains the consistent heartbeat bass and the rising and falling synths as though the track itself is alive and breathing. You can tell that Paresse must have had fun producing this track, as he interjects the soundscape with a swarm of textures and noises, including the reverberating, wordless vocals that contribute to the enigmatic mood. Skyfallet is as beautiful as it is curious, existing like a spell, captivating the listeners with its ambiguity. In the context of the album, it feels like a transitional piece, guiding the listener from the pressing starting point of Alchemy and into the softer arms of 4 Life.

4 Life starts much more gently than the previous two, easing the listener in with a plucky percussion and melody. However, once we hit the 50 second mark, we are greeted by the ethereal synths that connect us back to the celestial world of ‘Alchemy Trax’, though they seem lighter, breezier - 4 Life is more upbeat, the different sounds interweaving with each other with a cheerful playfulness. A weight has been lifted with 4 Life, as the audience enters a new stage of the listening experience, enjoying the glorious synths that complement the spirited percussion in such an elegant way. The track gradually fades out, and we are met with bird-like calls, heard faintly in the distance. This diminuendo is a false alert however, as the track revives itself all of a sudden, bringing the listener back with a high-energy beat. The familiar melody continues to sing as the track reaches a point of ecstasy - this is truly a celebration for life. 

The first thing that strikes me about the following track is its name, Sacre - the French word for sacred. It starts off simply with a pleasant chord progression accompanied by high-hats before we are met with the vocals, spoken evocatively in French. I am undeniably saddened by the fact that I am unable to understand the words that are uttered so elegantly by the unknown speaker due to the language barrier, however, the way the words echo around the soundscape adds to the delicious mystery of Sacre, as Paresse hints at hidden treasures behind the woman’s voice that weaves in and out of the melody that follows it. We are then left with the lingering word “sacre” as the tune plays out the intricate melody. This track is deeply atmospheric and trance-like, making it clear to the listener that they have indeed entered a sacred space of inward contemplation and reflection. 

Gold Totem continues the spiritual element of ‘Alchemy Trax’ with another evocative track, darker than its predecessor and erring towards tribal house with a firm percussion and a rhythmic chanting that occurs throughout. After starting with a simple drum beat, Paresse builds upon it layer by layer with many rich, organic sounds, painting a vibrant image of a tribalistic ritual. This is a track that makes your body want to move and let your instincts take over as you succumb to the sheer strength that emanates from the music. This is a powerful track to have half way through, different enough from the tunes that came before it but staying faithful to the world that Paresse continues to build. 

‘Alchemy Trax’ is almost relentless in the way in which it throws the listener from one intense listening experience to the next. There is no reprieve from the emotions that are explored within each track which makes the entire album exhilarating to listen to. Primitivo is no different. Opening with a simple refrain and a murmuring beat, this is another track in which Paresse seems to speak to your instincts to bring out your inner rhythm.  The melody that is introduced around 2 minutes is deceptively simple - whilst he does not play with quick movement like some of the other tracks, he instead revels in the unpredictable passage that the melody seems to take with each note so purposefully placed. It is tracks like Primitivo that reveals to us Paresse’s eye (or rather ear) for detail and his ability to get in touch with our primitive selves with the enchantment of his music.

The seventh track, Broken, returns to the sense of urgency that we felt in the opening track. The usage of the repeated note and the sturdy percussion makes me wonder what he is referring to with the title Broken, as the rhythm seems unbreakable, remaining steadfast and persistent. It isn’t until the voice comes in after 2 minutes 30, glitching and stuttering as though the person it belongs to is trapped in-between realms, lost amongst it all, that the brokenness begins to make sense. This is emotional electronica at its finest as Paresse continues to thrill and surprise with this musical sophistication.

Silver brings with it another mood change with a baseline suitable for a moody dancefloor and synths contributing to a feeling of eery displacement. After 1 minute 30 we’re greeted by a catchy melody that we hear throughout the track - perfect for side-stepping in a dark room until the early hours. The soundscape is occasionally punctuated by mysterious vocals and I can’t help but wonder if this is the same voice as the unknown speaker that we met in Sacre. On a personal note, Silver has to be my favourite track of the album. I can’t resist a brooding dancefloor track especially one like this as Paresse skilfully toys with dissonance to contribute to the atmosphere. It really speaks to me, therefore, when the ghostly speaker mutters: “you and I have something in common.” Indeed, we are united by this track, brought together over the sustained synths and throbbing beat. 

The penultimate track, Hermeticum, has an undercurrent of haste, highlighted by the refrain of the four descending notes heard almost constantly throughout, driving the track forward. Hermeticum has a strong sense of purpose and is utterly relentless. We occasionally hear the sound of someone’s voice breaking through the flurry of the soundscape and I can only imagine being trapped in a sandstorm, unable to see or hear anything other than the debris flying past my face until I hear a voice, fighting to get heard above the mayhem, attempting to reach out and connect but never quite managing to do so. Hermeticum is a commotion of sounds yet meticulously detailed, as though Paresse is reminding us that no matter how frantic his music may sound, he is always in control, he is always masterful. 

Doctor Rhythm finishes the album on a pretty epic note. The whole way through ‘Alchemy Trax’ has felt like an adventure, with many twists and turns, each track bringing something new and surprising. Doctor Rhythm, therefore, is the final boss. As the journey comes to a climax, Paresse makes the most of the sustained synths stretched out before us, bringing back the feeling of a dystopia wasteland - a chasmic space of infinite possibilities. It is the perfect finisher, as Paresse creates a complex soundscape in which different rhythms dance around each other and he truly reveals the genius of his production skills. This track oozes quality and mysticism as Paresse concludes his Odyssey of sounds.

Through ‘Alchemy Trax’, Paresse has built an entire world through sounds alone. This LP is a real showcase of Paresse’s skills, influences and talents as he pulls from different genres to create something entirely unique, filled with elegance, mysticism and magic. 

‘Alchemy Trax’ has an undercurrent of spiritualism, emphasised further by the title of the LP and the various tracks. Alchemy is rooted in a complex spiritual worldview in which everything around us contains a universal spirit and metals are believed to be alive. It is no wonder, therefore, that some of the tracks are named after such metals and that the theme of the divine runs strong throughout. Listening to ‘Alchemy Trax’ as a whole truly felt like a transcendental experience as Paresse takes the listener on an intense journey filled with emotions and devotions. It is unsurprising that this is one of my favourite releases of 2021 as Paresse has shown nothing but deliberation, sophistication and skill throughout the entire LP. 

review by lucie walker

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