Koh – vocal, piano, keyboard | Natsuki Tamura – trumpet | Masahiro Uemura – drums | Nankoh Kumon – cello
Recorded by Shinya Matsushita on August 13, 2009 at Studio Dede, Tokyo, Japan. Track No. 4 was recorded by Yohei Hamamoto on May 16, 2009 at GOK Sound, Tokyo, Japan. Mixed and mastered by Shinya Matsushita on September 6, 2009 at Studio Dede. Illustration and design by Momochokkiri. Produced by Koh – KOYA Records.
All compositions and words by Koh except track number 3 (Santoka). Lyrics quoted from “Collected works of Santoka Taneda” and track number 9, lyrics partially quoted from and referenced to “For Whom Do You Love?” by Ayako Sono.
Tracklist: 1. window [7:57] 2. ridgeline [6:16] 3. Santoka [5:49] 4. The scent of the morning [4:51] 5. GARE [12:01] 6. 6variation? [3:19] 7. diaphanous veil [5:34] 8. moon waxes [5:38] 9. signpost [7:45]
KOH (Koh Otera) began her musical career
with the help of composer and pianist Satoko Fujii, who produced and played on the Japanese vocalist, pianist and composer’s spare and promising debut, Yamabuki (Libra, 2005). A unique vocalist and pianist, with a rare sensitivity to poetic texts that are the basis for her playful compositions, KOH proves—six years later, with two completely different releases—why Fujii trusted her talent. On both sets she collaborates with drummer Masahiro Uemura, known for his association with sound sculptor Otomo Yoshihide’s outfits and the Shibusa Shirazu Orchestra.
KOH’s second release features collaborations with drummer Uemura, Fujii’s partner, trumpeter Natsuki Tamura, and cellist Nankoh Kumon, a member of the Japanese Segments String Quartet. KOH’s compositions follow the essence of her concise poems (all translated into English), and as such have their idiosyncratic outlines, often to surprisingly dramatic effect, and a playful character of building tension and releasing it. Her voice demonstrates wide range, moving from dark bottoms to a spectacular stratosphere.
On the opening “Window,” the musical theme follows a short vocal descriptions of sights from a window during wintertime, but KOH and Uemura turn these observations into a drama of courtship between two musicians who improvise on the melody and the words, as well as the vocal content of the observations and the way they are mirrored musically by both players. “Ridgeline” is a beautiful, meditative sound poem, with Tamura in a masterful lyric mode, and cryptic lyrics that refer to our fragile existence. “Santoka,” quoting haiku poems by modern poet Santoka Taneda, offers another side of KOH and Uemora—still playful, but with more pathos from KOH, who recites the insightful poems, while Uemura’s very own sense of timekeeping accentuates certain segments of the poems and adds a humorous side to this duet.
The most impressive composition is the 12-minutes suite ‘GARE,” featuring Tamura and Uemura, both stressing KOH’s poem about the sense of wonder and enchantment while encountering nature’s ever-changing surroundings. All three musicians alternate solos that gain more power, depth and freedom as the suite develops. The chorale-like “Diaphanous veil” finds KOH whispering her mysterious poem, accompanied only by a distant organ, while the dramatic “Moon waxes” patiently keep blossoming, with Koh’s assured, dramatic delivery and Uemura’s understated drumming. “Signpost” quotes a beautiful poem by poetess Ayako Sono, while “For Whom Do You Love?” features KOH slowly reciting sad verses about the demise of a love-affair, accompanied by minimal piano, offering modest comfort with the harmonious sides of her melody and the poem’s striking insights. — Eyal Hareuveni
click the image above to read the lyrics…
click the image above to read the lyrics…
CD version (incl. shipment cost world-wide)