Farao, Berlin-based Norwegian producer/songwriter Kari Jahnsen, is back with this, her sophomore album. Her inspirations on this album range from old Soviet disco to 90s R&B. The result is a record filled with luscious and dynamic synthwave finesse.

The album opens with Marry Me, a galloping synth-driven love song. In it we can hear Jahnsen wrestle with expression, to a point in the song where it breaks down to minimal instrumentation and a brash, distorted, near-robotic rant from Jahnsen: “Somehow I will communicate some of the overwhelming, undying, overpowering, unconditional, all-encompassing, heart-enriching, mind-expanding, on-going, never ending love I have for you.” There are some great exhibits of analogue synth mastery throughout the record, most notably in Get Along and The Ghost Ship where we get to hear old electronic sequencers blend beautifully with R&B grooves. The highlight however comes in the form of Lula Loves You. Reminiscent of Robyn at her best, Jahnsen is able to deliver heartbreaking sentiment in a song that has you both dancing and crying: “And there will be a point where you want to leave him / But my darling please don’t turn away from love.” The album is rich and raw with layers of gurgling synths intertwining with each other, while the production on the drums is left loud and unadjusted. The beauty in Jahnsen’s vocals can really shine when placed on top of this robust foundation.

The attention to detail on this record is top class. Although the many extended outros of sequenced synthesizers are a musical dream and something that would really hit home in a live set, it leaves Jahnsen’s songwriting craft by the wayside. When used to its fullest, this artistry gives us the highlights on the album: tracks like Marry Me and Lula Loves You. While there are not enough tracks lift it up to those great heights, Pure-O is still an album of quality and beauty.