KUNIYUKI Vinilo y CD

Review: Some expansive, cinematic, orchestral spiritual jazz for you here, from the trio of talents that Fumio Itabashi, Kuniyiki and Henrik Schwarz. While the latter two are generally better-known for their deep and sometimes tech-tinged house and ambient productions, the original mix of 'Watarese' (featured here on side B) is a dense, immersive jazz soundscape laden with evocative Japanese vocals, improvised piano, moody orchestration and definite nods towards vintage free-jazz. Spiritual Life supremo Joaquin 'Joe' Clausell provides the remix and, somewhat predictably, steals the show. His take is gently rhythmic, sun-splashed spiritual jazz full of hand percussion, fluid piano motifs and rubbery double bass.

Review: Japanese producer Kuniyuki Takahashi's Newwave project is a new interpretation of his musical roots. He was majorly influenced by SPK, Test Dept, D.A.F and various industrial and EBM acts. Then he formed an industrial music band with his brother in the late 80's called DRP. After 25 years, his new release is a unique mixture of his deep and emotional house sound with the aforementioned influences and now presenting the second volume once again on Mule Musiq. Takahashi is a stalwart of the label, having put out close a dozen LP and several EPs on the label over the years. From the broken beat and arpeggios of "Blue Neon" to the neon-lit '80s night deep house of "Newwave Project #11" there's an odd collection of grooves on here from a unique perspective.