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viewing 1 To 11 of 11 items
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2LP
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MUSIQ 268LP
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Mule Musiq present a reissue of Koss's Ancient Rain, originally released on CD in 2008. Romantically, otherworldly floating introspective ambient: Kuniyuki Takahashi, one of Japan's most prolific contemporary musicians, was always an artist for deep sensual expressions. Especially under his anonym Koss he explores profound electronic ambient sounds enlarged with ingredients of house, minimal, IDM, and what he calls a "new oriental sound", a style, that translates traces of ancient Asian music traditions into modern realms. In particular, his fourth Koss album Ancient Rain, released in 2008 as CD only, was an attempt to meld old melodic traditions with textural layers of modern electronic frequencies without losing a distinct human touch. Now Mule Musiq releases his nine compositions for the first time as a double-LP, rendering his poetic, slow burning melodic drifts and rhythmical shifts into the richness of the vinyl sound. All music was produced in-depth in his very own private studio while using music making computer software, a Roland System-1, Jupiter-8, and the dynamic percussion Synth Korg Wavedrum. Besides the short tune "Dream (Real World)" that features suavely absorbing oriental harp sounds, all compositions vibrate six to ten minutes long. An epic format, that goes hand-in-hand with Kuniyuki's extemporaneous work ethic, in which every moment of creating generates a unique unknown poetic universe. "It's an endless continuing journey," he states and points out to what listeners will experience while wandering off in his subtle expanding layers of sounds and electronic modulations. Sometimes his favorite instrument, the piano, is hanging dulcet above the frequency alternations. Also restrained house grooves actuate the cautious chord progressions and environmental sounds deepen the sublime listening experience. Those who dive into Ancient Rain of the reel, will experience a seamlessly shadowy ambient drift, in which every detail is given space to breathe in order to entrap heedful spirits into a preternatural never-never land beyond space and time.
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CD
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MUSIQ 047CD
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In 2005, Toshiya Kawasaki founded Mule Musiq in Tokyo out of a desire to introduce the world to the music of Kuniyuki Takahashi aka Koss, one of the most multi-layered contemporary musicians of Japan. In the time since, Kuniyuki has stayed consistent and continued to evolve in terms of mastery, musicality, and freedom of artistic. His love for music has never been caged in a singular style or genre. Under his own name, as Koss, or in collaborative works with musicians like Henrik Schwarz, Marcus Henriksson, and Sebastian Mullaert aka Minilogue, he explored many different musical languages, from house and techno to ambient, jazz and classical. As a listener he also loves a variety of styles, ranging from old 4AD and Factory Records releases to industrial bands like SPK and Test Dept, producers like Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois, and pianists like Bill Evans, Abdullah Ibrahim, and Lyle Mays. They have all left a hidden mark on his music without ever being copied. Traces of those three jazz piano masters can now be heard and felt in Silence, Kuniyuki's fifth solo album as Koss. Its title is an announcement, as the listener will not find any club groove, overwhelming bass power, or rhythmic dance attraction on it. Nevertheless, all of the tracks are very rhythmic and groove gently. The piano plays a key role even though most of the music was created electronically. It's quiet and calm melodies dive into smooth electronic spheres and field recordings or are embraced by low-key percussions and reduced string elements. As usual, Kuniyuki's music is not overcharged, in order to leave space between the notes -- a technique that enlarges the silence and sharpens the ear for sounds that float between and above it. Everything was produced in-depth in his own private studio with computer software, a Roland System-1, a Jupiter-8, and the dynamic percussion synth Korg Wavedrum. Nothing that is audible is written, as Kuniyuki likes to improvise. Only later, after he has been totally absorbed by what his mind and soul performed, does he fine-tune the recordings. His initial plan was to produce a real acoustic-sounding album, but then the electronics joined softly and Kuniyuki intuitively found a simple balance between both sonic worlds. These pieces are deep, minimal, and offer much to explore. CD includes four exclusive tracks: "Voyage," "Endless Flight," "Urs," and "Ancient Train."
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LP
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MUSIQ 184LP
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12"
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MULE 068EP
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Koss' own remix of "Ocean Waves" is a beautiful slow house sound. New track "Mercury Dub" is trippy and psychedelic but still sounds organic. This is Koss' most club-friendly track. The highlight of this EP is a remix by Swedish duo Minilogue. It's hypnotic and groovy and a perfect tool for the dark club.
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CD
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MULE 018CD
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This is the fourth album by Koss -- the experimental sound project of Kuniyuki Takahashi. Kuniyuki is well-known as a deep house producer who has released on labels such as Spiritual Life, 2000 Black, Lifeline and his home Mule Musiq. His releases have been supported by F. Kevorkian, Joe Claussell, Larry Heard, David Mancuso, Luciano, Minilogue and Carsten Nicolai. After the splendid Four Worlds Converge As One (MULE 010CD), Koss returns with this beautiful ambient album. The album kicks off with the floating ambient song "Dream," and goes deeper with "Ocean Wave," which features a recorded wave sound mixed with dark, slow house with the pulse of a beating heart. More introspective ambient follows with "Jumoku," "Ancient Rain," and "Memory Mapping." Koss expresses his thoughts about the ambient music of the past and present on "1978to2008." The album finishes with the illusory, classical sound of "Beauty," "Odyssey," and "Dream," which features an Oriental harp sound. These are very still, gauzy, ambient creations that will lull you into a preternatural dream-state.
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12"
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MULE 049EP
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Earth is cut from Koss' album Four Worlds Converge As One. The original version of "Earth" is beautiful, quiet ambient, reminiscent of Vangelis and Jon Hassell. "Negai" is taken from Innervision's ambient compilation, Muting The Noise. If you like the music of Harold Budd or Ryuichi Sakamoto, you will like this song. On the flip, Âme contributes a massive dancefloor remix.
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CD
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MULE 010CD
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Originally released by Mule Electronic in 2006, now distributed outside of Japan for the first time. Kuniyuki Takahashi (aka Koss) is a producer and sound designer from Sapporo, Japan. In contrast to his deep house projects released under his natural name, Koss seeks to musically embody ambience and thematic continuity: each track must have one theme and 4 ways to express that theme. With synths that hover in space, gently zig-zagging strings and small clicking beats that bounce against organic tribal percussion, this meditative recording charts the course to some unknown destination in the mind. Listeners to Koss' second full-length release on Mule Electronic will be able to feel influences from some of Koss' favorite artists: Daniel Lanois, Brian Eno and Harold Budd. If all four tracks on the album are played simultaneously, another song will be instantly created, which is another strange feature of this album... four worlds converging as one, indeed. This album is much treasured by Koss' peers, and has received high praise from Carsten Nicolai.
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12"
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MULE 015EP
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Japanese artist, based in Sapporo. "In 2000, his first album Ring under the name 'Koss' was released. This epic downbeat album including the tunes extended to 40 minutes was highly appreciated by many artists including Larry Heard also musical and establish his vision of the world on a constant basis at the high level. In 2001, by taking part in the festival 'Big Chill' in Naxos, Greece he started his live performance with his laptop energetically and even now the tunes of Koss have been mutating and evolving. The album Live Ring released in 2002 that he absorbed the element of dub differed from his original tune 'Ring' raised his visibility."
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12"
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MULE 006EP
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Vinyl EP version #1. "Ring is a breathtaking trip from Phillip Glass-ish minimal music to contemporary techno and ambient."
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12"
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MULE 007EP
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Vinyl EP version #2. "Expected playlist by Pope Benedikt, Siegfried & Roy, Kofi Annan, Radiohead, David Beckham, Donald Duck..."
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CD
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MULE 002CD
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"Koss is based in Sapporo. Started his musical activities in 1985. Being significantly impacted by German progressive and noise, the brothers' unit 'DRP' was formed. The style of its live performance at that time produced hardcore sound with the fusion of metal percussion, noise and electro. In the late '80s to the early '90s, its works released from major labels in Europe that electro music was popular such as Body record, Antler Subway records, KK records and so on. Since the middle of '90s, he has performed live frequently under some names and started his musical activities as the unit 'Mask' presenting the fusion of native musical factor that world music has got and electro. He also started the production of the tunes absorbed acoustic sound such as percussion, piano and so on that he plays in his own person. Then, he took part in the unit of Haruomi Hosono (a.k.a Yellow Magic Orchestra member) as percussionist at the big event 'Rainbow 2000 Japan' in 1998. Furthermore, he started producing his works under his field recordings. In 2000, his first album Ring under the name 'Koss' was released. This epic downbeat album including the tunes extended to 40 minutes was highly appreciated by many artists including Larry Heard and Plaid and also Media. His tunes are experimental yet to musical and establish his vision of the world on a constant basis at the high level. In 2001, by taking part in the festival 'Big Chill' in Naxos, Greece he started his live performance with his laptop energetically and even now the tunes of Koss have been mutating and evolving. The album Live Ring released in 2002 that he absorbed the element of dub differed from his original tune 'Ring' raised his visibility."
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viewing 1 To 11 of 11 items
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