Wonder Waltz

Another year, another superb album from Susumu Yokota but with Yokota it is never just another album. Always stretching the boundaries, trying something new and Wonder Waltz is no exception. Inspired by his recent collaboration with singer Caroline Ross, Yokota has recorded with 4 different vocalists to create perhaps his most unusual album.

If this were a film it would be directed by Ingmar Bergman or Ang Lee…‘The Seventh Seal’ meets ‘Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon’…a phantasmagoria of unusual sounds and textures, spectral voices and deep beats.

From these disparate elements Yokota creates a deep web of sound that encompasses everything from dub, folk, techno, gamelan, guitar raga, classical and avant garde.

As well as the clear bell like tones of Caroline Ross the album features the curious east European sound of well known violinist and singer Iva Bittova from Moravia who performs and records regularly with Bang On A Can. The delicate breathy voice of Hahimi Karie , a famous Japanese singer and fashion icon now resident in France and the gallic charm of Alex from Tokyo who conversely is a French DJ, famous in Japan.

‘elegant and experimental…gorgeous’ BBCi Collective ‘Beautiful female vocals combined with classical elements and sweet electronics…a masterpiece’ Phosphor ‘sublime’ The Times ‘evocative and beguiling’ Alternative Press ‘properly ethereal…exists on a different spiritual plane to most of his contemporaries’ NME ‘Fantastic sounds to immerse yourself in completely" DJ