In the depths of Tokyo resides a musically talented phenomenon who has received numerous praises for his musical works. His album, Zen, won the Best Electronica Award in 2002 AIFM Awards and has made a name for himself on the international level. And now he’s back this fall with the release of his three new albums to mark the 20th year of his solo career. His name is DJ Krush. Why DJ? Because he is amazing at using the turntables and creating real instrumental sounds with it and use it like an actual instrument. The experimental/electronica music he produces tends to have a jazzy and hip-hop twist to it. Whether or not you like jazz or hip-hop, he compiles these two genres and brings music to a whole new level.

In album one this Fall, Shuya no Chiheisen (Sleepless Horizon), DJ blends in his abstract hip-hop with electronic music. In the beginning, the beat sounds similar to the robotic instrument MADI that is used in EMMI’s piece “Drum Circle.” Afterwards, it sounds like a wami bar is used and the ‘whoosing’ effect of the ‘electronische music.’ These effects were nicely generated and blended into to composition. Not too long to annoy the listener but not quite too short either. There are samples of drums mixed with static buzzes from generated square tones. The distinct monotone beat in the background does make it seem “sleepless”, as if you’re just waiting for the sun to come up.

Kuon-Far and Away was released shortly afterwards. The extended electronic echo of the beginning tones of the song make you think like you’re entering a mesmerizing dream. This single makes you feel like you are slowly walking into a high-ranking club and in comes the jazzy music. A fresh single album of DJ Krush, I have to say. You can hear the bass in the back of the music. Samples of piano music, a nice drum upbeat and the interesting blend of electric strings generate quite a utopian feeling. This piece, however, was composed during the spring this year-shortly after the devastation earthquake in Japan. As any composition would have the incorporation of the composer’s feelings in it, the effects of the disaster was in his thoughts when composing this piece. Far and Away is an uplifting and inspirational piece for the Japanese at this time that the disaster is done and that as a community they must stand strong and live on.

In the third album, Breathe of Wings, you’ll hear samples of organs, string instruments, a variety of drums and other instrumental sounds. You can hear eerie sensation form the soft electronic grain bits due to granular synthesis in the background. The high frequency of these bits tingles your ear while the voices and the slight tremolo envelop this epic environment that absolutely touches the listener. Towards the end you’ll hear the jazzy tunes immerge that turns the mood around making a noticeable yet smooth change in the structure of the song and returning back to the main composition of the song. In this particular track, DJ Krush does an extraordinary work on the compilation of music samples of traditional instrumental sounds and electronic music.

Using samples like Pierre Schaeffer did and approaching electronic music as Stockhausen did, DJ Krush combines the two techniques into his own sort of abstract genre. Stockhausen did compose a piece that combines samples and ‘electronische musik' called “Gesang der Jungling.” However, DJ Krush explicitly uses more instrumental sounds that balance out the electronic side of the piece.

This song is a remake of his original soundtrack that was in the 2009 Russian animation film “FIRST SQUAD.” Most remakes are never as good as the original, but I must say, DJ Krush has made it happen.

This is DJ Krush, at his best.


[Citation]:
"Profile." DJ Krush Official Website. 2004. Web. 28. Nov. 2011