Radio Valhalla by Damien Olsen: A Sonic Puzzle You Can’t Unhear
If you’re into music that makes your brain go "huh?" while also giving your soul a warm hug, Radio Valhalla by Damien Olsen is the kinda album you didn’t know you needed. Released in 2007, this self-released gem (props to Olsen Records too!) dances across genres like it owns the place—Reggae? Jazz? Funk/Soul? Rock? Electronic? Yeah, all of 'em. And styles? Abstract, Future Jazz, Dark Ambient, Avantgarde… It’s like someone threw a bunch of wild ingredients into a blender and hit frappé.
Let me tell ya, this record isn’t background music for dinner parties unless your guests are super chill weirdos who appreciate unsettling vibes with their pinot noir. No, Radio Valhalla demands attention. It grabs you by the ears and whispers, “Hey buddy, I’m gonna mess with your head now.” And honestly? I’m here for it.
Two tracks stuck out to me so hard they’ve been looping in my brain ever since. First up: "Pleasant Ghosts." Whoa. Right off the bat, it hits you with these eerie, floating synths that feel like walking through fog at midnight. But then—and here’s where Damien gets cheeky—it drops this groovy bassline that sneaks up on you like an old friend tapping your shoulder. The whole thing feels haunted but inviting, like those creepy cool abandoned houses you always wanted to explore as a kid. By the time the track ends, you realize you’ve been holding your breath without even noticing. That’s art, folks.
Then there’s "Friday7PM," which might as well be renamed “The Soundtrack To My Overthinking Sessions.” This one starts off jazzy enough to make you think you’re about to sip coffee in some smoky lounge, but soon the beats get chopped up and glitchy, like someone spilled their drink on the turntable. There’s something hypnotic about how it builds tension—you keep waiting for it to explode, but instead, it just keeps teasing you with little bursts of melody. It’s frustratingly beautiful, like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded.
What strikes me most about Radio Valhalla is how unapologetically itself it is. Damien Olsen doesn’t care if you don’t get it. He’s not chasing trends or radio play; he’s crafting worlds within worlds, layering sounds until they become more than just songs—they’re experiences. Listening to this album feels like flipping through a photo album full of pictures from dreams you can’t quite remember but still kinda miss.
And maybe that’s why it sticks with you. Because when you listen to Radio Valhalla, you’re not just hearing music—you’re stepping into someone else’s imagination. Or maybe it’s yours. Honestly, after a few listens, the lines start to blur.
Final thought: If aliens ever invade Earth and ask us to explain human creativity, we should probably hand them a copy of Radio Valhalla. Either they’ll totally dig it, or they’ll leave us alone figuring we’re too confusing to bother with. Either way, win-win.
