Tzuki (Moon)

Ken Ikeda's music is crystalline. Tzuki (Moon) is made from shards of crystal, delicately chiseled and assembled into skeletons of songs. And then, it feels as if the crystal liquefied and became water, since nothing is strong enough to apply pressure on it: songs drift by, a gentle melody accompanied by undercurrents of backward notes. Always on the verge of analog synthesis and electronics, of 1970s German-school electronic music and 1990s computer manipulation, Ikeda's music is both pleasing and haunting -- not to mention impossible to categorize. New age fans might have some difficulties relating to these beautiful but troubled soundscapes (like looking at an underwater fantasy landscape) and avant-garde electronics fans will definitely be destabilized by the conspicuous simplicity of the results. "444" is the most conventional track of the set, a delicate cycling motif, but stronger highlights are found on the title track and "Hydantol." The sound palette may be a bit limited, but it actually helps, making Tzuki (Moon) a comfortable late-night listening experience. A strongly recommended discovery. ~ Francois Couture