Random Circuits

Mule Musiq Presents I’m Starting To Feel OK Vol 2 [Mule Musiq] (buy)
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The Japanese based Mule Musiq label is at the forefront of cutting edge electronic music, with a impressive back catalogue, and a quality sub label, (Mule Electronic) this label is getting stronger with every release. It started off by mainly focusing its attention on the Japanese electronica / Ambient producer Kuniyuki Takahashi, but it wasn’t too long until they started to build the label by shipping in up and coming  budding electronic artists, everyone from Force of nature, Henrik Schwarz to the Echologist aka Brendon Moeller has had a release with Mule. Always pushing boundaries & breaking away from the average, this label is one to take note of & one to watch very closely. They seem to release in quick succession, often not getting the attention & praise that they deserve.

Me, I have been interested in their music for a good while now & have picked up some fabulous music from both of the labels combined, so when I heard they were releasing a various artists compilation CD I was eager to hear what they had on offer & let me tell you now this is one compilation that will not disappoint. It’s a mixture of luscious house music that will take you on a wonderful journey through nearly every spectrum of the electronic music scene, passing through deep and disco to ambient & house but not forgetting club, home listening & chill out. This really is a superb album.

Yoshihiro Tsukahara & Kuniyuki lead the way with “It Floats” & it certainly feels like you could be floating, the airiest of pianos combines perfectly with a soothing plucked string guitar, whilst this is lifting you away the pair gently bring in some airy synths so breezy they virtually float of unknowingly. Make way for Todd Terjes remix of Kaoru Inoue’s “Secret Field” the Norwegian gives the track a up beat italo disco remake with strong strumming electronic guitars & a lovely warm melody that goes deep.The strings eventually turn acoustic & this is accompanied by the warmest of percussion’s. Ten Snake continues the great mood with “Keep Believen” this to me is what deep house music should be about warm & melodic music that actually goes somewhere. It will take you by surprise as it suddenly gets more intense. Without doubt it’s the jazzy synths & the keys which really make this record stand out in the crowd. Sasse goes for the electronic funk approach on “Deep Ocean Eddie” which sounds like he’s been taking influence from late 80’s records, this is expertly made electronic music at it’s best. Regulars to the Mule Musiq roster are Kento Sasaki & Yotsukaido Nature AKA Force Of Nature, this being an aptly titled name for what your about to hear. Their instrumental take on Ana’s “Shift” is a sublime piece of Japanese music, more suited to home listening it’s one of those tracks that you have to hear through a decent set of headphones to benefit the most from. So your all chilled out & in a state of trance from the sublime work by Force Of Nature, but don’t get too chilled as up next is Sly Mongoose with “Bad Pulse”  the padded cell remix. This is laced in deep funk that has a distinct live feel throughout a very well produced track, part jazz part electronic this really pushes the boundaries & makes a thoroughly enjoyable listen.

Long time electronic music producer Terre Thaemlitz bring a very nice experimental piece to the table with “Masturjakor Club” this is quite dark & more mysterious than the previous records on the album. I love the attention to detail as its intricate layering comes off perfectly. The next track is one of my favourites I’m a sucker for anything brass related be that a sax, trumpet or some groovy horns & this is no exception. Kuniyuki’s Rhythm & Trumpet remix of his own expertly crafted “Flying Music” is a real show stopper. No words can express how truly sublime this piece of music is. This track alone deserves 5 stars. Time for Henrik Schwarz to put in an appearance this time he’s in collaboration with Kuniyuki on the great “Session” track. Both artists combine their skills here & it works well Schwarz with his home grown house & jazz skills & Kuniyuki with own unique part electronic part Japanese flavor. The penultimate track “Galaxia” is by Marcello Giordani and has had the remix treatment by the Motorcity Soul boys. Matthias & Christian do the record good with their own take on things, it’s much more club orientated than the rest & it focuses it’s main riff around deep swinging synths & a uncontrollable bleeping that will eventually form into the track itself and come together very well indeed. Which brings us almost to the end of our wonderful journey but not until the Echologist AKA Bredon Moeller puts in an appearance. Choosing”Faith” the (NY Remix) to close on was a stroke of genius on Mule Musiq’s part this is the track you wont be forgetting in a hurry. It reminds me of music that used to get played in this old Reggae bar in Bradford City Center. Brendon pulls out all the stops on this track as it swirls in beautifully produced electronic music combined with jazzy trumpets, cool percussion, tight drums and a lovely warm feel.

I simply can not stress enough how fantastically unique & brilliant this album is.

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