1000 Plateaux is the debut record by Hiiro Issiki, a Japanese composer. I don’t find too much information on Issiki’s background, but this record is a musical chimera, sprouting patterns and shapes at will, yet maintaining cohesion, and in many parts, beauty. What a stunning piece of work this is! Respect goes to Bedouin Records out of Bangkok, Thailand, for releasing this album. It’s motivation to explore their catalogue further.
Andrew Land is a composer out of Birmingham, England whose work is simple and rhythmic, played in an elegant manner, without sounding simplistic. It’s minimalistic, so those of you who enjoy the works of Harold Budd, Philip Glass or even Hans-Joachim Roedelius may want to pass your time enjoying this EP. If you prefer to stream the release, Andrew obliges you at his Spotify account.
A good remix album should have the same song remixed by several pros and not sound a thing like the original. I think Nigel & Derek of Tunnelmental have pulled it off in this three-track album. The original track is a bouncy raver with the sampled refrain, “Life is a state of mind.” I can agree with that. Track two is remixed by Tony Byker, whose previous remixing work I’m not familiar with, but he ups the bpm to make this into something actually dancefloor-ready. The final track is a house-style reworking by Derek which closes the EP quite well.
Though I know Thomas Jackson Park’s work in its more experimental form, this new release is a nice surprise as the dub influence is obvious, and a pleasant distraction from all the brutal noise I’ve been going through today.