Ilpo Väisänen^[FIN]

17th July  -  20:00

/ Mutant Radio /

born in 1963 in Kuopio, Finland, is an electronic musician and sound artist known for his raw analog aesthetic and experimental approach. Originally trained in visual arts and ceramics, he co-founded the influential group Pan Sonic with Mika Vainio in the early 1990s, gaining recognition for live performances recorded straight to tape using custom-built synthesizers and minimal setups.

Pan Sonic became a landmark project in electronic music, performing worldwide at institutions such as Centre Pompidou, Southbank Centre, and Sónar Festival. The group collaborated with artists like Merzbow, Sunn O))), FM Einheit, and Ryuichi Sakamoto, and received an Ars Electronica award in 2005. After the group’s split in 2009, Väisänen continued developing his own unique sonic vocabulary.

Since 2015, he has released several solo albums on Editions Mego, including Communist Dub, I-LP-O in Dub, and ÄÄNET, the latter created in memory of Mika Vainio and incorporating field recordings from Pan Sonic tours. His music is characterized by stripped-down analog synthesis, fractured rhythms, and a deeply tactile sound design.

Väisänen also works as part of DIE ANGEL with Dirk Dresselhaus, a project exploring freeform noise and drone since 1998. Under the alias I-LP-O In Dub, he continues to release music that embraces imperfection, handcrafted instruments, and an approach that feels both primitive and forward-looking.