DJ Krush/Toshinori Kondo - Ki-Oku

Artist:

Krush, DJ

See Also:

Squarepusher Shadow, DJ Dr. Israel

Description:

Personnel: DJ Krush (programming, scratches); Toshinori Kondo (acoustic & electric trumpets). Japanese turntable master DJ Krush pairs up with trumpeter Toshinori Kondo on this moody set that combines hip-hop, jazz, and ambient music. Though Kondo`s resume includes work with such left-field figures as Derek Bailey, John Zorn, and Fred Frith, KI-OKU has none of the avant-skronk associated with those artists. In large part, that`s due to Krush`s wide, atmospheric textures, and languid, mid-tempo break-beats, which both soften and anchor the album`s sound, creating lush spaces for Kondo`s horn to drift through. KI-OKU sounds both primitive and futuristic at once, with an overall vibe that owes a significant debt to Miles Davis`s late-period electric albums. Alternately abstract and groove-driven, Krush`s thick, rhythmic patterns and Kondo`s processed trumpet, which sometimes sounds like a wild animal struggling through the forest, recall classic, early-1970s Miles compositions like "He Loved Him Madly." But KI-OKU, with its scratching and electronics, is quite contemporary, and its mix of genres, moods, and references makes for a mesmerizing listen.

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Toh-Sui
2. Tobira-1
3. Mu-Getsu
4. Ha-Doh
5. Sun Is Shining
6. Mu-Chu
7. Tobira-2
8. Fu-Yu
9. Ki-Gen
10. Ko-Ku
11. Shoh-Ka
12. Bu-Seki
13. Tobira-3

Album Information

Release Date:

03/23/1999

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Electronic

Subgenre:

Trip Hop/Big Beat

Label:

Instinct

Producer:

DJ Krush; Toshinori Kondo

Catalog Number:

408

Original Release Year:

1999

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

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