The Wire review, 2004 [..] this selection, which gathers into one place pieces recorded by Esa Ruoho between 1999 and 2001 and released on various 7"s, 12"s and compilations released during that period, is shot through with sparks of imagination, suggesting that Ruoho's lowish profile, compared with fellow Finns like Brothomstates and Ovuca is undeserved, if altogether suprising. Lackluster's music is theoretically focused towards the dancefloor, but it's gloomy whispers and muted sparkles don't go out of their way to appeal to the 'hands in the air' brigade. The more discerning, however, will find much to enjoy in the inventive rhythms and sweet clarity of Ruoho's melodic lines. Themilkfactory review, 2004 Esa Juhani Ruoho, 26.10.1978, Finnish born and bred. The profile introducing Esa Ruoho, aka Lakluster, taken from the artist website, couldn’t more to the point. At just twenty-four, Ruoho is already a veteran of the electronic music scene, yet he has remained relatively unknown until now. This first release for American label Merck could well change everything. Already responsible for a string of remixes for artists such as Leafcutter John, Marumari or label mate Machinedrum, Ruoho has released four albums since 1999. With two albums for UK label defocus in two years and one for U-Cover, Ruoho is one of the most promising new artists to come out of Finland. Ruoho’s interest for electronic sounds started at the tender age of six, when he developed an interest for the music of C64 and Amiga games. Progressively switching to ambient and the then almost-meaningful IDM movement during the mid-nineties, Ruoho released his first MP3s in 1998, with his first CDR album, simply called CDR#2 released on internet label Monotonik, before being snapped by deFocus for his next effort, Container, a year later. As more of his work started to appear on various compilations, Ruoho released two albums in 2001, one under his own name (Spaces – U-Cover) and his second for deFocus (Wrapping). Although Ruoho has collaborated with Merck in the past with a series of EPs, Showcase is his first full-length offer on the Miami-based label. Has its title indicates, this album showcases some of Ruoho’s work, in this particular case recorded between 1999 and 2001. The striking thing with the nineteen compositions featured on this album is the wide range of sonic ambiences and genres, from the shapeless formation of interferences of the opening track, ironically called Tuneful to the classic electronica of the concluding track. Interestingly, there are a great number of untitled tracks here, simply identified by a date, a constant in Ruoho’s work pretty much since the early days. Sometimes associated with the seminal Artificial Intelligence series for his melodic approach to sonic environments, Eas Ruoho has certainly defined his own way of arranging beautiful soundscapes. Using relatively straightforward beat patterns as a basis for his compositions, he focuses on progressive sounds to create the primary structures of his creations, and then adds more subtle sources until each composition becomes utterly unique. From the hypnotic LL12 B3 Machine Drum and Haloaw to the sumptuous landscapes of LL7 07/05/00 and Mes, this album forever entertains and captivates. Perfect introduction to the sound of Lackluster, Showcase offers an interesting overview of his work during his first two years as a recognised recording artist. If since, his sound has become slightly more ambient at times, it still retains the energy of these tracks. Esa Ruoho’s constant effort at creating beautiful soundscapes and arranging them in his own particular way pays off on this outstanding collection of classic electronica. 4.7/5 Xlr8r review, 2003 Showcase collects Lackluster's singles from 1999 through 2001 into an uninterrupted expanse of shadowy electro dotted with shining synthpop pearls of melody. Darkly chiming and pretty - if a bit outdated - and predating the irony-laden electro explosion, Lackluster's tracks are disarmingly sincere. The track dated "07/10/99" is jaunty and percolating, while "28/06/00" is long and naively lovely. De-bug review, 2003 Lackluster ist vielleicht einer der umtriebigsten Produzenten, die wir so kennen. Von Finnland aus infiltriert er Soulseek und alle anderen Download-Slots, lebt also im Netz der Netze, immer ganz nah an seinem DSL-Modem, weil es da so schön warm und kuschelig ist. Und ab unf zu erscheint sogar mal ein traditioneller Tonträger, so wie jetzt auf Merck. Esa Ruoho kann alles, glaubt er zumindest, drum weiss man nie, wie das denn nun klingen wird. Aber hier ist es einfach wunderbar. Denn auch wenn Lackluster sich gerne mal in unendlichen Ambeint-Drones verliert, blitzen in seinen starken Tracks unfassbare Killermelodien durch, bounct die 808 einen heftigen Boogie und alles ist prima. So auch auf Showcase, einer Zusammenstellung von Tracks, die, soweit wir uns erinnern können, alle schon mal im Netz kursierten und den klassischen Lackluster zeigen, ungefähr so, wie wir ihn auf seinem Defocus Album lieben gelernt haben. Mit einem scharfen Ohr an der Melodiemaschine und einer klaren Liebe für englische Beats, die als Direktimport aus Detroit damals mit ein bisschen Cider in den Schaltkreisen sofort eingebürgert wurden, droppt Lackluster hier einen Hit nach dem nächsten. Der komplette Oldschool-Killer. Grooves#11 review, 2004 Finland's Eso ruoho is known for being on the mellow side of the IDM camp, with ambient, contemplative melodies gently flowing across earholes while downtempo beats shuffle assiduously in generally perfect electro step. There are also amply rigorous rhythms that could inspire robotic movements across a particularly adventurous dancefloor. Fans of that style will not be disappointed with Showcase, as Ruoho chooses his atmospheres well, even if he doesn't exactly transcend the rigidly cautious boundaries determined by this cottage industry. The seventh track, "Strateface," is especially infectious, sporting that bubblegum-funk Toytronic vibe. Because most of these songs are selections from previous releases on labels such as Rikos, Surgery, and DeFocus, there's considerably less filler to wade through than on some of his other full-lengths --most pieces seem to have been designed to be heavy hitters. Ruoho is an above-average descendant of the general aesthetic handed down over the years from those seminal Artificial Intelligence compilations on Warp, playing carefully by the numbers.