Need some new tracks to listen to while sunbathing on a cruise or contorting via your daily yoga sessions? Well, Susumu Yokota is back with a slew of tracks to keep you relaxed while you go about your daily routine. The new record, Mother brings with it, the perfect amount of ambient music to chill out even the most stressed of listeners.
Originally from Japan, Susumu Yokota began his career at Berlin's Love Parade in 1993. Starting out as a house DJ, Yokota has effectively transitioned to producing his own style of ambient music. His new album demonstrates his passion and talent for his musical style via a mixture of female vocals and contemporary beats. The record features a plethora of vocal guests from artists such as Casper Clausen of Efterklang and Nancy Elizabeth. This adds lovely variety to the full-length.
The album starts out with an upbeat tropical sort of rhythm with the vocals of Clausen backed by echoes of deep male backups. The experimental variations Yokota creates are apparent throughout the whole track. The resonances in Yokota’s tracks lend a very organic feel, which only help to make Mother more relaxing. You also may notice that many of his song titles relate to the elements of nature.
Take for example words like breeze, flower, and melt water. Nifty isn’t it? Even the album cover consists of a very minimal photograph of a pair of beautiful leaves.
Not only does Yokota include uplifting titles such as “Love Tendrilises” and “A Ray of Light”, but also melancholy ones such as “Breeze” and “Suture.” Instead of just making a stereotypical ambient album with a constant theme and repetitive tunes, he shows his diversity and talent through the use of a variety of experimental styles.
“Reflect Mind” is a perfect example of a track that seems to be taken from traditional Asian music. Also being from Japan, I can hear the slight resemblance with Yokota's track and ritual Japanese music. On the other hand, Mother concludes with the decidedly non-traditional “Warmth” - the only track in the album that does not include vocals. As the title relates, the track sounds very cozy and tranquil. As such, it works perfectly as the record’s closer.
If you need a good album to relax, make sure you add Mother to your collection. The variety and talent espoused by Yokota will not let you down.
Track List:
1. Love Tendrilises
2. Breeze
3. A Ray of Light
4. A Flower White
5. The Natural Process
6. Reflect Mind
7. Inside Foresighted Vo
8. Meltwater
9. Tree Surgeon
10. Suture
11. Bonda
12. 12 Days 12 Nights
13. Warmth
