The solo project of the prolific Japanese producer Ryu Yoshizawa, Koeosaeme finds him relying on a very specific mood for these nine tracks that stemmed from the isolation and subsequent introspection that accompanied the COVID lockdowns.
“I” starts the listen with a soft ambience, where a minimal, dreamy quality surrounds the soothing experimentalism. “II” then creates a mysterious droning that swirls with a haze of beauty, and “III” takes that lead into ethereal territory via the bright electronic gestures and percussive ideas.
In the middle, “IV” radiates much wonder and awe thanks to the melodic backdrop and light harmonics, while “V” takes a more dramatic shift into cinematic qualities that embrace both light and dark aspects. “VI,” the longest track at nearly 12 minutes, then uses slight buzzing and emotive song craft that weaves in and out of therapeutic, mesmerizing dynamics.
The final two tracks, are, not so surprisingly, “VIII” and “IX.” The former is a sonically engaging moment of warmth and sophistication, and the latter is perhaps the most adventurous track. Sometimes seeming like field recordings, it also includes otherworldly noises that make for an aberrant and exciting finish.
A body of work that pairs atypical programming with sound art imagination, the album is full of pieces that are certainly avant-garde and flirt with cosmic, psychedelic and even jazz ideas.
Koeosaeme's resume is quite extensive and includes working live with Ryuichi Sakamoto and Yukihiro Takahashi, as well as lots of commercial work. There’s plenty of solo work from him to be explored, too, and this outing unfolds like a fictional scene that’s sonically inviting and purposefully tranquil.
Only 150 of these were made on a pink cassette, and the eye-catching artwork from Nina Cosco only adds more charm to the highly artistic experience.