Originally a member of postrock act Yodaka, Hiroshima's Daisuke Kashiwa decided in 2004 to set out on a solo career. After putting out a few limited issue CD-Rs, the 28-year-old musician has now released his first official album, "April.#02."
The album was given a huge boost when Ryuichi Sakamoto spun the disc's title track, a stunning 27-minute opus, during his J-Wave radio show. Standing out among the six instrumental compositions, the ambient song layers eclectic noises over a gorgeous background of keys and strings as it intertwines classical music, electronica and field recordings. Cinematic in nature, it skips and cuts out as it slowly changes pace, before eventually morphing into a dreamy, distorted dance number.
The rest of the album follows a similarly meandering path -- dense textures create an intelligent sonic journey for a non-existent movie. From the abstract "Do Re Me," which sounds like deranged circus music, to the lovely, minimalist "The Unexclusive Virus -- Even Our Invincible Religion 'Technology' Cannot," Kashiwa's debut captures a wealth of creativity and talent. To feel the full power of the album, be sure to listen to this one through headphones.