WATA IGARASHI レコード& CD

Review: DJ Nobu and Wata Igarashi and two of the finest techno talents in all of Japan right now. Their knack for sound designs is seance to none - the latter having a background in that for computer games helps, of course. They have a deep sound that is utterly hypnotic and so to have them together on one record is a treat. It is London's Fabric that has made that so here with them both offering up once cut each. 'Flares' from Nobu goes first and melts the mind in the usual fashion while Igarashi's 'Abuku' is more percussive but no less subversive.

Review: Infamous Tbilisi club Bassiani is one of the hallmarks of the emergent Georgian party scene, and its in-house label is adding to the respected reputation of the place with a strong cast of characters occupying each release. There's a distinct Japanese bent to the third volume, leading in with Wata Igarashi's verdant synth-fest "Stratosphere", a truly cosmic slice of modern techno. Takaaki Itoh takes things in a darker direction with the super-linear "Monobehaviour", while Iori breaks things up with the atmospheric offbeat kick of "Mist". That leaves it to scene leader DJ Nobu to complete the circle with a tripped out set of twinkling notes and off-kilter grooves like only he can do.