Just to confuse matters there's two different versions of the new Akira
Kosemura album. There's a regular single CD version which contains all
the kinds of things you'd find in that kind of package (ie cardboard
sleeve and shiny musical face mirror thing). There's also a CD/DVD
version which is six quid more and features the aforementioned goodness
plus an extra DVD which I've not seen yet. So I'm not sure if it's
worth the extra quid for the seven track DVD. Maybe if I get some time
soon I'll watch it and let you know somehow through some modern medium
like Twitter or something else equally as stupid. Here Akira creates a
more organic sound featuring the likes of Paniyolo, Haruka Nakemura,
Aspidistrafly etc. It still features all the twinkles and the like...
the things you come to expect from a new CD on Schole. It seems less
electronic that previous releases I've heard from him. There's still
lots of micro electronics and piano but there's plenty of acoustic
guitar poking it's head around pastoral corners. It's all very pretty
and nice, perhaps too nice but I'm not sure if anything can really be
too nice. The vocals that pop up on the odd track are also refreshing
and the collaborative efforts here make this an interesting (yet nice)
release. Lovely.
Love this record? Hate it? Tell us.
Sound clips for Grassland by Akira Kosemura: on CD at Norman Records UK. CD, Schole, SCH-013, £16.99.
