Release Date: 23 March 2015
Song Count: 11
Duration: 55 minutes, 29 seconds
Rating: 7.0/10
Description:
Song Count: 11
Duration: 55 minutes, 29 seconds
Rating: 7.0/10
Description:
Looking for a collection of groovy music made out of digital samples and inspired sound mixing? Then we seem to have arrived at the right album, with long-time electronic music composer Soichi Terada behind the wheel, ready for a musical ride. He is primarily known for producing the soundtracks for the Ape Escape game franchise, but has been in the music scene since 1989 creating all sorts of beats using his electronic composition skills to their fullest. This release of his from 11 years past marked his return to actively touring and getting himself involved in the music scene once more after slowing things down over time, and years later, he is still kicking it since in spite of being in his 60's. To commemorate the decade anniversary of Sounds from the Far East's release, a re-issue of the album took place last year, including a nifty bonus track tailed on named "Into Desert".
Digital composition runs in the veins of Terada and his presence as a musician, and nowhere is that more evident than with these 11 tracks. Slick, looping beats that have an almost break-beat like quality to them whirl around, with sounds and samples of all sorts carefully being taken in and out of rotation over the course of the runtime, and whilst mainly electronic sounding in nature, these chunks can take on all sorts of forms, sounding like different instruments or being taken out of vocal chops. The artist's expertise in composing music in this style becomes very apparent as one lends an ear into this 55-minute experience, as every move made in this J-house and chiptune realm is calculated to progress the feel and impact of these otherwise minimalist tracks forward.
While songs can certain grate on the walls of one's eardrums if the motifs introduced right at the start fail to hook the listener in, when the landing does stick, there is plenty of free space given to let the groove indulge and ride itself out gradually, which forms a pleasant air around the listening experience whenever it occurs. Sounds from the Far East is a record that, though far from the most path-paving work in the world, offers something just unusual and interesting enough to want to stick around and explore what sorts of melodies each track will follow and how they will put their confined yet cleverly selected library of samples to use. Soichi Terada is an absolute visionary in this particular niche he has managed to carve out for himself, and for that, the man certainly deserves his accolades. Perhaps worth checking out if you wish to aurally witness what is a fascinating blend between house music, hip-hop instrumentals and beats that sound like they were ripped straight out of a 90's game for the Sega Genesis.