Top Story: 28. October 2008
Rehome
By Editor in Chief, Jaakko Saari
Electronic music and video artist Takagi Masakatsu's 2005 album release Rehome moved me with it's simple and silent tunes.
Masakatsu is well known of his artistic music video works. His collection BLOOMY GIRLS was published by Buluemark & Epiphany Works. His latest album available in iTunes Music Store, Private/Public (2007) shows how deeply this Kyoto born artist can go with his works. Later, in October 2007 Masakatsu joined with Miu Sakamoto in "Sorato, for AU Design Project".
Masakatsu's style is very distinct and easy to recognize. He uses various sound sources, distorted notes of old piano that has gone out of tune, female voices.
Rehome is a warm, lyrical, and very well finished piece of art. The album is something of a mix of Sakamotoish electro-pop, and experimental pop of Brian Eno, or say Haruomi Hosono. But Rehome is as visual as Masakatsu's video works. This works well even without the picture.
The female lead voice is mysterious, and sentimental. My own favorite is "Flat Echo", a silent piece with simple piano melodies. A track leading to it, "Via Ever Sight" is beautiful in a similar way.
Perhaps, however the most popular piece in this album would be the "Flying House". It combines a strange harmony of distorted voices, a clever bass pattern, and kitch beat.
Takagi Masakatsu's work is not as boring as Pizzicato Five's, not as overly classic as Sakamoto's. It is something, totally different and fresh.
Rehome sounds to me as a music which would be perfect for newlyweds who have just moved into a new house.
Takagi Masakatsu's CD's can be bought from iTunes Music Store. I will review his latest album "Private/Public" in near future.
