Kaito
‘Collection’
Album released 13th September
InFiné
LP/Digital
An emblematic figure in Japanese electronic music, Hiroshi Watanabe, aka Kaito, brings together nine ambient, melodious tracks on ‘Collection’, released 13th September via InFiné.
Renowned as both an artist and DJ within the Japanese electronic music and international ambient scenes, the highly prolific artist based in Saitama near Tokyo, has amassed an impressive body of work over the past twenty-nine years. With over twenty albums and nearly a hundred singles to his name, Watanabe has delved into various electronic music genres under a multitude of pseudonyms. While his Hiroshi Watanabe productions lean towards the dancefloor and techno, Kaito embodies a melodic and atmospheric essence. In Europe, he is predominantly recognized for the latter venture, which commenced in 2001 under the esteemed Kompakt label.
The name Kaito holds profound significance, shedding light on the artist's aesthetic and inspirations. Initially, it pays homage to his son, born the preceding year, whose visage and silhouette grace the covers of his inaugural albums. Moreover, the kanji character for Kaito embodies the notion of "Unravelling the enigmas of the universe." These allusions hint at a certain spirituality and benevolence that the artist articulates through tracks oscillating between deep techno, jazz-infused melodies, influences from the Detroit scene, and ethereal soundscapes.
‘Collection’ brings together a large handful of Kaito's EPs and singles, first released on the artist's Bandcamp profile between 2020 and 2022, before being re-edited and remastered by InFiné in 2024. In the great tradition of the ambient genre, the album takes the form of atmospheric tracks, marked by sustained synthesiser notes, soaring, reverberating layers, and occasionally more hypnotic sequences. Beyond these materials and ambiences, what distinguishes Kaito above all is his melodic approach and his mastery of string and keyboard harmonies, whose chords are inspired by the jazz and classical music that have marked his upbringing and his musical career. “Listeners experiencing my music from ‘Collection’ may find it more organic than expected, reflecting a different mood during the pandemic,”
Tracklisting
‘Silent Cloud’ (Beat Version)
‘Call From The Ground’
‘Summer Mood’
‘Summer Ocean’
‘Silent Sky’
‘A Life That Can Only Be Dream Now’
‘Birds Of Passage’
‘Summer Sketch’ (Floating Through Space In A Dream)
‘Nexus 2’ (Beatless Version)
No comments:
Post a Comment