Tamaru - Figure

Run by Hideho Takemasa, Trumn is a new music label from Tokyo. The
first release of Trumn is by Tamaru, a well-known figure of
solo-improvisation in Japan. ‘Figure’ is his second album using solo
bass guitar technique, after ‘Basso Continuo’ on his own label 1050.
He works with pedal effects and delay processors - the result are 8
long drone pieces; where few notes are played producing low overtones
and different kinds of resonances. The music is quiet with flickering
movements, textures and colours of intentional floating sounds that
interweave in an unexpected way.


-- review

Trumn is a new label from Tokyo, Japan, run by Hideho Takemasa. Trumn
releases are featured in a taller, 3-panel vertical case, made with
heavy cardboard, and printed with cold lamination film coating and
matte varnish, with transparent ink. The artwork, by designer and
artist April Lee, is a flushing and ghostly array of photography,
brilliantly arranged and eerily fitting for Tamaru's music.
Considering the amount of thought, time, and quality that is
represented through the packaging, the resulting releases of equally
high-quality music in such an art-edition format makes the albums of
Trumn pure, and timeless.

The first release of Trumn is by Tamaru, a well-known figure of
solo-improvisation in Japan. He is also a member of the band
Installing, with Keiichi Sugimoto and Tadahiko Yokogawa. His album on
Trumn, 'Figure', is his second album using his solo bass guitar
technique, after 'Basso Continuo' on his own label 1050 from 2000.
Included in one of the inner panels of the release is an explanation
of style and method, which is an enlightening insight into the
thoughts and ideas of Tamaru.

The most imperative detail about Tamaru's music is improvisation, and
the will to allow sounds to extend in their own ways, in controlled
orders, sequences of senses of beats, and the overture of continuous
sounds. Using only a bass guitar, delay processors, and a volume pedal
(each controlled by his left and right foot), 'Figure' succeeds in
creating an audio map of the progression of harmonies,
tonal/atonal/microtonal positions, and the natural evolution of a
controlled while still expressive and adventurous sound.
(Will Thomas Long / Celer)

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