What Himawari has presented as their second full length offering on Rematter Music (Sub-Label of Low Res Records), is 11 songs of beauty, precision and electronic dreams. A vast journey to the peaks of technological display and valleys of emotional depth.
With almost four years having elapsed between "Pomposo" and Himawari's debut, "Mineral," the progress and evolution is so apparent on their latest effort that it makes one realize that time and essence are the greatest curators of all. All good things come to those who wait, indeed. A recording so rich with majestic production and intense subtleties, it absolutely qualifies as a beginning to end epic listening journey.
With almost four years having elapsed between "Pomposo" and Himawari's debut, "Mineral," the progress and evolution is so apparent on their latest effort that it makes one realize that time and essence are the greatest curators of all. All good things come to those who wait, indeed. A recording so rich with majestic production and intense subtleties, it absolutely qualifies as a beginning to end epic listening journey.
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Opening with the serene "Pulse," a minimal intro sets the mood as Lena goes on to identify "The pulse of the earth." Aptly enough, it gives the feeling that Himawari has undoubtedly tapped into the cosmos through the etherial layering of vocal melodies and production wizardry. Following is one of the standout tracks, not to be missed, "Love Letter." In the revered second slot of the track listing, "Love Letter" comes to the listener with innocence, beauty and sage wisdom. This gushing, six-minute epic journey travels more distance in one opus than most so-called electronic producers try to achieve in a lifetime of works. Hima continues with the heartfelt voyage through such tracks as "Sketch," "Fixing the Moment" and the finale, "Kitten Dream," where the stark beauty of Lena's delicate vocals closes the journey with sleepy content and endearing likeness to a feline napping away a lazy sunday afternoon.
"Pomposo" is not only a headphone experience for the lush winding textures of Takeshi's songwriting, or Lena's charismatic vocals, but a stomping joint with plenty of boom for the subwoofer enthusiast in us all. Ramping up the intensity, Hima presents "Pearl" about halfway through the CD. A track so refined and grand, it's equal parts Aphrodite and equal parts Oppenheimer. Once the CD listening experience breaks through into its second half (and it truly does need to be listened to in its linear entirety to appreciate its storytelling quality), it showcases its innate ability to let the hammer fall with tracks "The Truth" and "Lotus." "Lotus" especially tears up the soundwaves with rhythms even the most jaded connoiseur of contemporary flavor-of-the-month Warp-soundalikes could instantly put in their Top Ten.
While Lena pours her heart and mind into the vocal delivery and lead persona, Takeshi is an accomplished drummer, with graduate honors from the Berklee Scool of Music in Boston. He showcases his skills with two brief instrumental segueways that completely illuminate the detailed precision and subtlety that has gone into this masterful production. "Conical Pendulum" is a soothing downbeat rhythm that slips into freakish time signatures while reamaining smooth as satin, and "Pre" is a clicky number that swells into a deep atmospheric intro for the electrified "Lotus" that is short in duration, but leaves no question of the breadth and ability of the genius that is Takeshi Ichikawa.
And for the big bang ultimate finale, an unprecedented, groundbreaking, fresh and truly original masterpiece titled "Wheel of Life." Just when you thought those adjectives could never be applied to popular music again, Himawari stretches for new ground, and makes it there. Without giving too much away, just listen for yourself and see if you're not completely surprised by the unparalled grace and blown away by the raw imagination. Queen would be proud in a very Bohemian sense.
Review by Fivel Sezfreez
