by Ben Hogwood

What’s the story?

A new album from Masayoshi Fujita, whose exploits with the vibraphone and marimba have seen him explore new sounds in music inspired by nature.

Fujita returned to his native Japan from Berlin in 2020, locating with his family in the mountains of Kami-cho, Hyōgo – where he turned an old kindergarten into a recording studio. The first album released on his return, Bird Ambience, put Arcana under its spell with its enchanting and expressive writing.

To his well-known mix of marimba, vibraphone and synthesizer, Fujita now adds vocals from Moor Mother and Hatis Noit, with guest contributions on saxophone (Osamu Fujita) and shō (Mattias Hållsten).

What’s the music like?

Listening to Fujita’s music is akin to glimpsing a rare bird in bright evening sunshine. His compositions are notable for their rare beauty, and on Migratory he captures the climate of late summer sunshine. It’s easy to imagine where these works were composed, with a great deal of light and space but also brightness that makes the music glint at the edges.

Pale Purple is an especially beautiful composition, with soft drones and half-conscious thoughts on the marimba given wonderful colours by the shō. Moor Mother excels on Our Mother’s Lights, where the brightly coloured textures shimmer in response to the voice. There are lovely, soft tones on the restful Desonata, while the tone painting on In A Sunny Meadow is uncanny, and rather beautiful. Valley, meanwhile, is a mere breath of wind, drawing the listener in with its subtle bass sounds.

Does it all work?

It does. Fujita writes fluently and gracefully, the bright tones of his music lifting the mood.

Is it recommended?

Yes. If you’ve been following Fujita’s career you will not be surprised to learn that his masterful way of writing for vibraphone and marimba remains unchanged, but the addition of extra instruments here mean the music blossoms, extra colours added to his spectrum.

For fans of… Terry Riley, Laraaji, Bing & Ruth, Harold Budd

Listen and Buy

Published post no.2,301 – Saturday 14 September 2024