Junki Inoue Launches New Label ‘SAISEI’ With Previously Unreleased 90s Work By Kino-Moderno
The unconventional production style of this timeless release comes straight from outer space
Rarely, discovering a new release gives the odd feeling of having found an enigmatic, new sound source originated somewhere else in space, in a planet in another galaxy far far away. This is certainly what we felt when listening to the first record from SAISEI, a new electronic music Japanese label founded and curated by the eclectic deck master Junki Inoue.
SAISEI is a Japanese word meaning ‘reproduction’ and ‘to play’, as in playing records. Its main concept is to (re)introduce some unique pieces of Japanese electronic music to audiences that were mostly never reached before (most of this music was only released in Japan). We are astonished by the retro-futuristic style of this first release by KINO-MODERNO (duo formed by Dat Planet and Wah Wah Fuzzmaster), not only showing a top-level production and clever, distinct arrangements on each of the four tracks, but also presenting a sublime taste in the atmospheres created, escaping easy and functional club solutions.
A perfect example is the suspended and divine title-track ‘Into The Future’, an impeccable mix of upbeat breakbeats and elegant space arpeggios, delightfully dangling at times, but driving enough to be played in a club. The second track ‘Acid Water’ is probably the one with the most club-oriented tones - as you can guess from the title, it’s an uncontrollable acid groove that feels like it's driving you straight back into that 12-hour lysergic trip as you just managed to sober up. But the release also explores slower tempos with the closing track ‘The Glove’, an introspective work gradually infusing absorbing and powerful synth harmonies with organic sounds.
The EP was originally created using unusual production techniques such as a powerful 3D sound treatment called BMC and a binaural recording technique via dummy head, and some of the tracks were originally released in 1990 on VHS and laserdisc. ‘Timeless’ is certainly the best word to describe this work - honestly, without knowing we would not be sure if it was produced in 1990, 2020 or 2050.
But our pick for the premiere which we are very proud to provide you with an exclusive full listen is the B1 ‘Eclipse - Live Mix (Extended Re-Edit)’. Produced in 1991 and re-edited by Yuzo Iwata for this release, this deep and psychedelic breakbeat track struck us with its unconventional sound design where the delayed chord hits seem to take over and absorb the raw rhythm/bassline combo. Indeed, a timeless track which we are sure will leave many dance-floor speechless:
