Kodama こだま · ME004
koke no ne こけのね

Weaving together the ethereal sound of the Koto harp and the deep tone of analog synthesisers, Akiharu Kitagawa and Clementine Blue are exploring a cross-genre musical collaboration. Their semi-improvised performance is drawing inspiration from the nature in Japan and in the UK, inviting people to daydream and explore a new musical landscape.

The music was created between Itoshima, Kyoto, Margate and Nottingham. The tracks take you on a gentle walk through an ambient garden, acknowledging humble plants and birds of daily life such as mugwort, mosses and magpies. The album title, translating as ‘moss sounds’ or ‘moss roots’ bows to the discreet, often unnoticed green carpet.

Aki’s koto sound oscillates between the playful, celestial harmonies of his usual 13 string koto (Two For Joy), and the calming earthy lower range of a 17 string koto (Kokedera).

Floating between Japan and Europe, the field recordings from different places slowly build their own imaginary world, with sounds sampled from the moss temple of Kyoto, birds in Tokyo, leaves crushing near a Swiss lake. Koke no ne is your reminder to spend time outside and notice the little plants growing between the cracks and the birds rustling in your back garden.

Akiharu Kitagawa: koto
Clementine Blue: synthesisers
Recorded and produced by Clementine Blue
01 & 03 comp. Clementine Blue
02 comp. Akiharu Kitagawa

Mastering: Nicholas de Carlo
Artwork: Josef Ball
Graphic design: Tomas Jefanovas
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