This is a hell of a listen! The seven-track Taiyo is the warped but thoroughly enjoyable collaborative output of celebrated German producer Marc Romboy and Sapporo-based techno producer Ken Ishii.
The former is perhaps best known as chief of respected Systematic Recordings while the latter famously produced the official theme song for the Nagano Winter Olympics. That’s where the normalities end, however.
The title, Taiyo, is Japanese for ‘sun’, the origin of everything, and the irony is not lost on me. This is dark, at time experimental, techno best listened to with the lights off, or certainly when the sun goes down.
From the initial pounding sensations of ‘Gosa’ to the hypnotising, relentless ‘Seiun’, Romboy and Ishii have crafted a collection of tracks which, on first listen, perhaps won’t hook you. Stay with them, however, and you’ll likely be reeled in by the wonderfully-layered complexity of each offering; it’s a creeper for sure.
‘Dopplereffekt’ is my pick; aimed at the dancefloor, it’s got a groove which will convert even the most determined of wallflowers. The album close, ‘Der Strand’, is wonderful too, replete with the cooling sounds of running water and other haunted effects.
Eerie? Yes. Strange? Yes.
Excellent? Absolutely.
Taiyo is out now through Systematic / Balance Music.
