Dystopia (Dark ambient)

Dystopia is a collaboration of two musicians from Turku, Finland: Ismo Virta (guitars, synthesizers and effects) and Pertti Grönholm (synthesizers, samplers and effects). Dystopia has been occasionally active since 1995. The style of Dystopia is closest to the genres such as industrial ambient, dark wave and ambient drone.

In 1998 Dystopia released its debuting album The Second Dawn through Norwegian ambient label Origo Sound. In 2000 Dystopia made a composition (Born Wounded) from the order of the Finnish Broadcasting Company for Avaruusromua (Space Junk) show. In 2015 Dystopia released two DD albums. One is a re-edited and remastered version of The Second Dawn (Valimo Productions VPDDA-009) and another is a "studio live" album entitled as Half Alive (Valimo Productions VPDDA-008).

In the music of Dystopia clockwork-like sequences meet chance, intuition and improvisation. The dark soundscape of Dystopia is based on orchestral drones and harmonies, distorted guitar walls and occasional heavy percussion. These elements are sometimes contrasted with haunting melodies and crystallic and metallic sounds. Some of the tracks are a fruition of years of careful construction. Some other tracks have been developed rather quickly, as their main focus has been to capture momentary atmospheres by free-form use of instruments and sounds. Since 2009, Dystopia has also performed live.

Ismo Virta (b. 1962) has played in several goth rock and folk prog groups around Turku. He is best known from his folk prog band Kosmos. Pertti Grönholm (b. 1966) has composed music and sonic landscapes for radio, documentary films and exhibitions since the late 1980's. He is best known from his project Corporate 09, which is currently produced by Valimo Productions. In addition, both Virta and Grönholm are members of Kosmische Musik / Space music / Ambient band E-Musikgruppe Lux Ohr (with Jaakko Penttinen and Kimi Kärki).

Dystopia (Dark ambient)’s tracks

• Live Excerpt Pt. 2 (Turku 2015) by Dystopia (Dark ambient)
• Live Excerpt Pt. 1 (Turku 2015) by Dystopia (Dark ambient)
• Born Wounded (Half Alive, Valimo Productions 2015)- Full track by Dystopia (Dark ambient)
• Sands of Sinai (Half Alive, Valimo Productions 2015)- Full track by Dystopia (Dark ambient)
• Technocracy (Half Alive, Valimo Productions 2015) - Full track by Dystopia (Dark ambient)
• Born Wounded (Unreleased mini album, 2000) - Excerpts by Dystopia (Dark ambient)
• The Second Dawn (Origo Sound 1998) - Excerpts by Dystopia (Dark ambient)