Originally released in 2007,
Whistleblower marked an evolution in
Vladislav Delay's abstract post-dub sound. One of his last albums recorded mainly using analog equipment,
Whistleblower was busier and more intense than his previous works, with noisy flares and sporadic twitches interrupting the glacial soundscapes. Dub basslines provide some rhythmic guidance, but the beats rarely form consistent patterns, generally appearing as splintered cracks and clangs. "He Lived Deeply" sets out on a fairly straightforward path with big, knocking drum hits making slow strides, but after several minutes, the beat drops out and the listener is essentially stranded in the middle of the woods. Other drums appear, but they seem to serve entirely different purposes. "Recovery IDea" has more of a pronounced rhythmic pulse reminiscent of
Delay's more dancefloor-friendly work as
Luomo but still feels sparse and alien.
Delay later remastered the album from alternate recordings of the tracks, first releasing it digitally in 2022 before issuing it on vinyl for the first time in 2023, and this version of "Recovery IDea" has much more pronounced beats, making navigation much easier. Somewhat of a transitional release for
Vladislav Delay,
Whistleblower feels like a first step towards the darker, noisier directions he'd take later in his career. ~ Paul Simpson
