There is something about Japanese artists that hits just a bit different. They have a mystique to them that other countries don't often match. It's this intangible quality to the music that makes it stand out in different ways. In the case of 8 Quadrants, this quality is manifested through a deep sense of mystery.
From the very first notes of the album, its immediately evident that 8 Quadrants is going to be an album shrouded in a deep haze, where the obscure and atmosphere is king. There are no real melodies on the album, only a collection of moods that make up the runtime of the album.
I've said before that certain albums have a "Silent Hill" type feel to them. Where the music pays tribute to the legendary soundtracks in their own ways. 8 Quadrants absolutely falls into that description. Whereas, there are no rock or structure on this album, it fully embraces the hazy ambience that was pioneered on the Silent Hill soundtracks.
That's not to say that there is nothing original here, in fact - quite the contrary. Quadrants utilizes soundscapes and instrumentation that were never used within the aforementioned games, what is similar is the overall f e e l of the album... and it's remarkable.
Be it the slowly decaying piano and metallic sounds on Quadr ants, or the only beat oriented song Qua drants. Each song sounds like it belongs on this album, there is no other place it could possibly belong to. The use of delay, reverb, and repetition are used so incredibly well throughout the album that even though the memories of the music's details are foggy, I remember deeply how it made me feel.
Youske Tokunaga has created an album that I will be revisiting very often. This fits a very specific mood that I find myself seeking out on a regular basis. The combination of mystery, combined with the deep emotional connection I feel with the soundscapes is pretty rare. Rare enough that when I do come across an album like this, I hold onto it for a long time.
Tuesday, July 11, 2023
Entry 503 - Youske Tokunaga - 8 Quadrants
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