Peter Culshaw
Music From The Temple Of Light

Having previously served up new editions of a number of Midori Takada's solo albums, Swiss reissue specialists WRWTFWW have now turned their attention to her earlier work as part of the Mkwaju Ensemble. Ki-Motion originally appeared on legendary Japanese imprint Better Days way back in 1981, and saw the trio lay down a range of wonderfully breezy, melodious and life-affirming tracks that joined the dots between Glass and Reich style American minimalism, Berlin school ambient, Japanese new age bliss and gentle, proto-type electronica. It's perhaps not as rare or sought-after as some Takada-related releases, but it's still a delightful album: a melodious and sun-kissed affair that sparkles just as much as her sublime solo works.

Palto Flats & WRWTFWW Records are ecstatic to announce the highly-anticipated reissue of Japanese percussionist Midori Takada's sought after and timeless ambient / minimal album "Through The Looking Glass", originally released in 1983 by RCA Japan.Considered a Holy Grail of Japanese music by many, "Through The Looking Glass" is Midori Takada’s first solo endeavor, a captivating four-song suite capturing her deep quests into traditional African and Asian percussive language and exploring contemplative ambient sounds with an admirably precise use of marimba. The result is alternatively ethereal and vibrant, always precise and mesmerizing, and makes for an atmospheric masterpiece and an unparalleled sonic and spiritual experience.

A commissar with his hands tied and a gentleman godfather. A gang of ruthless kidnappers and a couple of parents ready to pay any amount to hold their missing daughter again. The evocative backdrop of Lake Como and the rare beauty of Piero Piccioni's music. “Fatevi Vivi, La Polizia Non Interverrà” (1974), also known as “Kidnap”, is a detective story directed by Giovanni Fago, with actors of the caliber of Henry Silva, Gabriele Ferzetti and Philippe Leroy. The film draws inspiration from the many cases of kidnappings recorded during the Seventies.The first vinyl edition of the soundtrack, edited by Musica Per Immagini, offers the listener a selection of his most significant tracks, carefully remastered, already released on cd. The soundtrack is a fabulous mix of lounge atmospheres, explosive action music and mysterious moments from which the sound of tubular bells emerge, as in the bittersweet pentaphonic opener Lovely Mood. Synthesis of a different mood from that adopted by his peers, exemplary in Ambushers, played by bass, guitar and piano, plus the string section in counterpoint. True hip hop break.Within the depths of the tracklist, it is easy to identify the third axis of the project, The Persuaders, thanks to the irresistible rhythm of the brass. The Sicilian Mafia motif is also distinctive, punctuated by the traditional sound of the Jew's harp. Another distinguishable aspect of Piero Piccioni's work is the wealth of themes. The composer goes beyond the model that provides for the creation of a main theme and a secondary theme with related variations, because he creates leitmotifs and musical figurations tailored to each of the salient situations and related protagonists.

Mammal Hands fifth album 'Gift from the Trees' offers a fresh perspective on the unique trio's singular music. The first to be recorded in a residential studio, the band enjoyed the opportunity to go late into the night searching for a deeper, more organic experience, closer to both their writing process but also their trance-like live performances. While some of the music was pre-composed and had even been performed live, the band also enjoyed the opportunity to improvise ideas in the studio. Drummer Jesse Barrett explains:We wanted to have a more immersive experience that felt closer to our writing process. One thing that was really important to us was feeling free to jam out ideas as they came to us. We're at a point now where playing and writing together can sometimes feel almost telepathic, that as individuals we can tune in to a collective resonance and just follow that thread where it wants to go. Sometimes it's something as simple as a rhythmic, textural flow, like in Sleeping Bear.