Browse by Artist: TAKEMURA, NOBUKAZU

Artist:	TAKEMURA, NOBUKAZU
Title:	Water's Suite
Label:	EXTREME (AUSTRALIA)
Format:	CD
Price:	$13.50
Catalog #:	XCD LTD005

"The sonic beauty of Water's Suite shows that Nobukazu Takemura has come a long way from his days as a successful scratch DJ. Known more recently for his thoughtful compositions and commissions for Issey Miyake, Takemura has decided to let the MIDI do the talking. In fact, he has utilized his own harmonies and melodies to improvise and create entirely new music. 'I played the original MIDI data and I input the scale, harmony, and melody in advance,' explains Takemura. He continues, 'However, I didn't use the typical method of replaying the sequence data. Instead, I did the SCRUB control change improvisation for MIDI data on my software.' Takemura is also intrigued by the very irregularities that MIDI systems try to eliminate. Japan has more than its fair share of earthquakes and these often unforgiving acts of nature have shown him just how varied a MIDI system can be. 'I'm also very interested in the reaction of the MIDI equipment in the blackout and the earthquake. (In Kyoto, it happened very strongly). The strange waves of sound at that moment seem to have a rule, but there is no rule at all,' said Takemura. From this subtle balance of composition and uncertainty, Takemura has taken the next step in his intriguing musical career."

Artist:	TAKEMURA, NOBUKAZU
Title:	Sign
Label:	THRILL JOCKEY
Format:	CD
Price:	$15.00
Catalog #:	THR 012.20CD

"A digital companion to the limited edition 12" released in late 2000, this CD features different versions of tracks on the 12" as well as a separate long version of 'Meteor'. In addition to that, 'Sign' features a CD-ROM cartoon by the man responsible for it's cover art, Katsura Moshino of Girlstudio fame. 'Sign' overflows with warm production and Nobukazu's ever present unique, charming playfulness and melodically effected, robotic vocals. These are unbearably delightful sounds that will have you unconsciously humming for days! 'Sign' brings to mind the electronic wizardry of some Mouse on Mars releases or Takemura's recordings under the Child's View alias."

Artist:	TAKEMURA, NOBUKAZU
Title:	Scope
Label:	THRILL JOCKEY
Format:	CD
Price:	$13.00
Catalog #:	THR 068CD

"Creatively, Nobukzu Takemura is inspired by both the 'impressionist and objective conception' of John Cage, Brian Eno and Afrika Bambaata, and the free form creativity of John Coltrane and Robert Wyatt. These influences are evident in his debut solo release, 1994's eponymous Child's View. 1997 saw the release of two records from Takemura: the 2nd Child's View record, Child And Magic and Changing Hands, a collaboration with Steve Jansen and Richard Barbierie. Scope is Nobukazu's debut Thrill Jockey full length. The five tracks all vary widely in style. Some focus on repetitive grooves that gradually transform into symphonies of delicately layered waves of sound while others offer organ-based melodies and alluringly stretched vocals. Also evident are intricate conversations between blips and bleeps that have more personality than half the humans you know. Put away your BPM counters, this is modern technology morphing. Musique concrete."

Artist:	TAKEMURA, NOBUKAZU
Title:	10th
Label:	THRILL JOCKEY
Format:	CD
Price:	$14.00
Catalog #:	THR 118CD

"10th begins where Takemura's more recent work --Sing and Hoshi No Koe -- left off, more playful than abstract. The most striking element of 10th is the presence of vocals. The vocals are created using the technology speech-synth. This is a technology created for the physically handicapped making it easier for them to communicate. And in Takemura's hands the technology sings, yet you're never sure if it is processed or it he is singing. Whatever the case, this free-spirited interaction is the essence of 10th. Inspired by the nature of Takemura's surroundings, Kyoto, Japan the record flows like a stream, twisting and turning in unexpected ways, ending peacefully in Lake Yoga. So grab a copy and prepare to be transported to a magical world that could only exist in your mind."

Artist:	TAKEMURA, NOBUKAZU
Title:	Assembler/Assembler 2
Label:	THRILL JOCKEY
Format:	CD
Price:	$13.00
Catalog #:	THR 123CD

"Assembler is the second part of a three record explosion Nobukazu Takemura is unleashing in 2003. All three records mark two years of recording at Takemura's home studio in Kyoto, Japan and are certain to put him ahead of the pack in the electronic field. For fans of Takemura's Scope, Assembler will be a welcome release, as it moves back towards his more minimal pieces. Journalists have had a hard time hanging a specific tag onto Takemura's releases, having settled mostly on defining them as 'playful' and 'accessible' or 'challenging' and 'seminal' depending on the incarnation."

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