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CD
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EX 302CD
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"Ken Ishii is one of the most innovative and forward thinking artists to emerged from Japan in the last decade. Hovering between techno based textures and subdued sonic bliss, Ken Ishii is clearly aiming for musical enchantment of a different kind. Having assimilated a wide array of influences (Yellow Magic Orchestra, DAF, Kraftwerk, Nitzer Ebb, Derrick May) he manages to make them come alive in a context that surpasses all comparison, mutating the very concept of techno itself. Ken Ishii has proved once again that he is at the forefront of internationally known electronic music composers and DJs without limiting his musical pedigree."
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CD
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EX 201CD
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"The legendary John Beltran returns after a lengthy pause with his best album yet. John makes music influenced by his attitudes towards life and listening habits plus tace elements of dancefloor experiences both past and present. So far he's produced four LP's and earned himself rave reviews and a cult following amongst those ready to look for something beyond the dance within so called dance music culture, although the beats, breaks and bass of the floor usually bubble up through his tracks no matter how reflective they might initially seem. The new album Americano opens with the sultry blues of 'Dreamin', where deep jazzy keys are supported by a low slung groove. This is followed by the recent single 'Caboclo' - a more uptempo number that still manages to sound dream like. 'Siesta Key' should unlock the door to anyone's quiet inner sanctum, its long drawn out textures help strip tension out of the listener. 'Bossalude' sees John updating the traditional bossa sound with deft electronic processing and flourishes. 'Soul Sketching' drips Detroit soul (both the old and new varieties) with its warm keyboard intro. The pace of the track is delivered by a drum n bass break whilst live keys hang and fill the spaces between the beats. 'Watercolour Dreams' releases the pressure, with its lilting keyboards lapping away any tension. 'Expecting Rain' continues the aqueous theme; the treated vocals become the chant of a medicine man incanting for the life supporting liquid. The impact of September 11th is still reverberating through the American psyche, and on 'A Better Place' one can hear John's tribute to the victims and survivors of the tragedy. The album closes with the sweet lullaby refrain of 'Dreamin'."
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2LP
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EX 103LP
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CD
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EX 103CD
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"Not many Japanese musicians have made it big outside their own country, but in this is as in so many things Ken Ishii is the exception to the rule. His first album, Jelly Tones, released in 1995 brought his name to the mass public both in Europe and Japan. Another two albums Metal Blue America and Sleeping Madness earned him even more respect and established him as one of the select few Japanese artists with a place on the international stage. Flatspin will undoubtedly take his impressive reputation a stage further. Originally conceived as a soundtrack to a Japanese equivalent of James Bond, it sees him pushing boundaries again whilst delivering what is his most accessible album yet. The new album includes the recent single 'Slapdash', described in the press as 'a compulsive throb of neon bright swirls'. On the other hand, stand out track 'Iceblink' is expected to be the new single, on the album it appears as an instrumental and as a full vocal, supplied beautifully by Inner City vocalist Paris Grey. All in all. Flatspin shows Ken on top form yet again."
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