(Lo Recordings/Inertia)

Subtlety rules, subtly...

Susumu Yokota is to ambient music what Matsuo Basho was to haiku, or Haruki Murakami is to elegant, concise prose. He could be an introspective Keigo Oyamada (Cornelius), or maybe an otherworldly Takaakira Goto (Mono), but the defining characteristic of Skintone Collection (a compilation for his Japanese label) is Yokota’s ability to paint both the abstract and the ethereal, or perhaps simply to create an environment in which you may explore your own landscapes. A simple truth rings throughout the Japanese producer’s career – compiled here by UK radio DJ Ben Eshmade. Like Basho and Murakami, Yokota conveys great meaning with minimal fanfare or artificiality. All at once celestial and subterranean, traditional and synthesised, Skintone Collection is a fantastic portrait of an artist who never fails to impress. (Yokota will also be releasing a new album later in the year.)

JAKEB SMITH

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