Midori Takada, Masahiko Satoh Lunar Cruise | 2017 Reissue

Description

Midori Takadas 1990 collaborative album with Masahiko Satoh,Lunar Cruise, is receiving its first vinyl reissue. It arrives September 15 via We Release Whatever The Fuck We Want, and itsavailable for pre-ordernow. The LP features recordings of ambient pioneer and percussionist Takada and jazz pianist Satoh, as well as contributions from Yellow Magic Orchestras Haruomi Hosono and Kazutoki Umezu. The vinyl package also includes the original studio masters and a CD with a bonus track called Iron Paradise. The reissue ofLunar Cruisefollows the recent reissue of Takadas debut recordThrough the Looking Glass. Listen to a preview ofLunar Cruisebelow. Pitchfork

Satoh has had a long recording career, with albums that date back to the late ’60s. He’s made music alongside free jazz players like Steve Lacy and Peter Brtzmann, as well as Gary Peacock and Toots Thielemans. Released seven years afterThrough The Looking Glass,Lunar Cruisestraddles the line between Satoh’s versatile playing and Takada’s meticulous percussion. The CD reissue opens with “Iron Paradise,” which is sleek and strange at first pass. Wonky digital bass, courtesy of Haruomi Hosono, and squalling synth lines mark Takada’s steadfast percussion, her fills more grand than anything onThrough The Looking Glass. Hosono also contributes to “Madorone,” a queasy ambient piece of disembodied voices, rubbed wineglass drones and Takada’s small percussive accents.

Takada’s more measured, gamelan-like timbres can be found on the second track, “Nahm,” entwining with Satoh’s more overt melodies. “Ancient Palace” hews even closer to the template established onThrough The Looking Glass, with gongs resonating in negative space and marimba lines bringing to mind sunlight rippling on a river’s surface. The latter instrument also surfaces on “In “D”,” which resembles a pitched-up Steve Reich’s “Six Marimbas.” “Monody” shows how well the two artists combined, with Satoh’s sparkling melodies out in front.

The album’s longest composition showcases Takada’s dynamic playing. “Chang-Dra” builds for two minutes with little more than the sound of struck metal, a tom roll slowly emerging underneath it. The middle section of the piece finds Takada toggling between many different rhythmic patterns, a showstopping display of her drumming talent. Satoh is a good foil for Takada, pushing her rhythms into prog, synth pop and new age realms. OnLunar Cruise, he helps bring out another side of Takada’s sound. Resident Advisor

Item description: