V/A :: Reinterpretations (Kanpai, CD)

Domo Records, home of legendary sonic artist Kitaro, recently launched the Kanpai Records imprint to focus on electronic and non-genre specific hybrids. One of the first releases on Kanpai is the Reinterpretations compilation, inspired by the works of Kitaro and featuring an assortment of remixers, DJs and producers each lending their talents and impressions true to the label’s hybrid intent. As the title implies, these are not merely remixes, nor are they so-called “covers,” these pieces are meant to illustrate that Kitaro’s vast 30 year-plus catalogue of timeless recordings, often referred to as “Sound Pictures,” lend themselves well to reinvention in current electronica climates flirting with subtle contemporary to full-on experimental.

“Michi”, the lead track off of last year’s The Sacred Journey of Ku-kai, gets disassembled and reconstructed by Junior Senior bassist Filip Nikolic in his solo guise as Turbotito with lush spacey echo effects and heavy bass conversing with its bright digital melodies. The production team known as Inside The Sun plunge deep into 3 of Kitaro’s works, beginning with his signature piece “Theme From Silk Road,” featuring laid-back drum loops reverently unfolding over the delicate representation of the ancient road from Europe to China. The drums take on an organic quality in their interplay with the mystic sounds of “Shizuku,” also from Sacred Journey of Ku-kai. Inside The Sun outdo themselves with their reinterpretation of “Mercury” from 2000’s Thinking Of You, with tribal rhythms complementing a haunting flute solo that evokes images of a busy metropolis encroaching on a brooding countryside.

“Sitara IV” from 2002’s An Ancient Journey is transformed into “Beat Break” by DJ Peas, who gives the Middle-eastern flavored track as well as its smoky companion, “Low Pass Dub” the Planet Dog dub treatment. Both tracks are a mere taste of what Peas has cooked on his impressive album Filters, where he sampled Kitaro’s music on each track. Reinterpretations closes with Stephen Hauptfeur’s reworking of Sacred Journey of Ku-kai’s closing track, “Cocoro.” Where the original version was an accurate interpretation of traditional Japanese music, the reinterpretation morphs it into an experimental piece with broken piano loops and disjointed chords disturbing the peaceful choral intro.

My only kvetch with Reinterpretations is minor; with the bulk of the material originally appearing on Sacred Journey of Ku-kai, I’m left wondering if the 1986 classic Tenku was intentionally overlooked, or if the producers felt its worthy material has remained timeless in the years since it was released and was free from the need to be reinterpreted. Regardless, this is not “just another tired remix album,” it’s refreshing to see a respected artist such as Kitaro exposed to new listeners in this context.

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Peas :: Filters (Kanpai, CD)

After working on co-scoring the 13 episode Japanese anime Ninja Scroll with electronic legend Kitaro, L.A. based DJ/producer Peter Peas McEvilley decided to record a new album where each track would sample Kitaro’s music. The end result is Filters, a chilled-out downtempo electronica masterpiece that has already found success on iTunes, as well as one of its tracks, “Beat Break” being featured in an episode of the popular TV show C.S.I. and, along with "Low Pass Dub" on the Reinterpretations compilation. While this concept has been attempted before with mixed results, Peas offers an original perspective in his techniques applied as he (hence the title) filters Kitaro.

Over the course of Filters’ 14 tracks, Peas effortlessly manipulates his source material into an attractive sound sculpture with various types of beats and heavily processed vocals suitable for public display and equally pleasing to the ears. From the coffee table house of “Looks Like Heaven” to the Chemical Brothers-like “Certifiable” and sultry lounge of “Don’t Be Lonely,” it becomes obvious Peas is a master at translating his DJ performance skills into his studio experiments, resulting in less temptation to skip tracks and relish the experience.

The beats keep coming with the funky “Never Stop the Music” and “Many Might Try and Get Ya” all the way to the understated closer “Oil, Air,” all the while in the background Kitaro’s worldly music flows seamlessly into the upfront grooves that identify Filters’ charm. This album will definitely appeal to those who have some Kruder & Dorfmeister or Thievery Corporation albums lurking in their collections, and I’m sure it won’t be the last we hear from Peas.

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Filters and Reinterpretations are out now on Kanpai Records.