Tujiko Noriko |
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I’ll start off honestly. I don’t get to listen to music from Japan frequently. Occasionally I get the odd burst of Japanese rock or punk, which is good fun as an alternative. I can’t remember ever listening to anything from Japan as decadent and delicious as this, though.
From Tokyo… initially began boring a hole into my mind as background music, almost. I would let it flood the room whilst I got on with other things, and it was pleasant enough, but never seemed like something to get my blood pumping. Maybe it’s because of the Japanese lyrics and not having a clue what Tujiko is singing about. However, the bottom line is that there are greater forces at work here.
The more you listen, you more you realize how deep the music goes. The songs actually feel like they are fluid, and that the sound waves can be manipulated by touch. Unlike many forms of ambient electronica, it doesn’t sound like it’s just one man and his sampler attempting to construct anything they can from random noises. The beats flow along with the synths and samples, whilst Tujiko sings along with her silken vocals. There is no doubt that it’s a simple recipe on the surface, but each listen seems to bear a new gift; something that you hadn’t noticed before, or just two sounds rolling into each other like small waves, creating new ripples and patterns.
The listener is never going to be exhilarated by the noise or pace of the album, as there isn’t any. It’s a completely relaxing, laid-back, hypnotic listening experience which succeeds by succumbing to its organic nature, and not being cold, mechanical structures designed just to show off sound manipulation. Yes, it’s a piece of electronica, but it feels human and is a delicate receptacle for emotion. Remember to handle with care and peel off the layers one by one.
Steven McCarron
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