Trevor Jackson
300 Words

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.

German's Dial has always been a cornerstone for electronic invention and Kosta Athanassiadis aka XDB has always lead from the front who it comes to deep and hypnotic sounds. The two come together for this fine full length which is the result of an ongoing 20 year friendship. The record is an exploration of experimental grooves, with spoken word snippets over deep organ sounds, pulsing drums and shifting timbres all drawing you deep into an alluring world of rhythm and sound. Next to more sedate pieces for mind expansion are plenty of gritty club grooves. Excellent work.