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Best of Soundscape 2011

2012-01-01T12:05:00.012+09:00

音の記憶 2011

竹林の雪解け

神奈川県相模原

真冬の早朝ならではの澄んだ空間に雪解けの音が絶え間なく響き渡る。

前日から降り積もった雪が竹林の枝や葉から滑り落ち、無数の水滴が大地に吸い込まれ川へ流れていく音風景に自然の循環や生命力を感じることができました。

鏡池の蛙

長野県戸隠

伝統と自然の宝庫とも言われる長野県戸隠ですが本来の自然が姿を現すのは、日没から早朝にかけてです。

4月頃の鏡池では夜になると蛙の鳴き声によるサウンドスケープが周囲をすべて包み込み圧倒的な世界が広がります。

戸隠にはこのような貴重な聖域がいくつか存在しますが、この時期の鏡池はその中でも最も印象深かった場所です。

500個の風鈴の音を聴く

東京都池上本門寺

毎年７月に大田区の池上本門寺で「500個の風鈴の音を聴く」というイベントが行われています。

風が奏でる500個の南部風鈴の音色は時に変化する持続音のように聴こえることもありました。

境内の砂利を踏む音、訪れた方々の話し声、つくばいの音などが風鈴の音と折り重なり日本の夏の音風景を演出します。

奥養老の虫の音

千葉県養老渓谷

美しい里山のサウンドスケープ、田畑やその向こう側の山々から様々な種類の虫の音を聴くことができます。

月明かりと星空の下で共鳴する虫たちの鳴き声は遠くに見える山のシルエットからも届いてきます。

沢山の個性的な鳴き声、養老渓谷の川の流れの音も聴こえる田舎のサウンドスケープに心が落ち着きました。

多摩川の落葉

東京都昭島

多摩川沿いの広場にできた柔らかな落ち葉の絨毯。

散歩や紅葉見学の人たちが落ち葉を踏む音、サイクリング道路を通る自転車、風が吹くとパラパラと木から葉が落ちてきます。

乾いた秋の夕暮れ時に暖かいサウンドスケープ。

and my favorite 2011 field recording releases

El tren fantasma. CHRIS WATSON (Touch)

Phonography Meeting 070823. -VARIOUS ARTISTS (Winds Measure Recordings)

Ki. LUIGI TURRA(and/OAR)

Credence. CHRISTOPHER McFALL, DAVID VELEZ (Impulsive Habitat)

Estuary. CHRIS WHITEHEAD (Impulsive Habitat)

Connection. SIMON WHETHAM (3leaves)

Barges & Flows. AKOS GARAI (3leaves)

Where Once We Walked. MARK PETER WRIGHT (Another Space)

For Objects. JEZ RILEY FRENCH (Engraved Glass)

Aguatierra. JUAN JOSE CALARCO (Unfathomless)

Ultrasonic Scapes. EISUKE YANAGISAWA (Gruenrekorder)

Best wishes for 2012!

Hidden Bird's Nest

2011-11-02T21:47:00.002+09:00

特定の地域や場所に焦点をあてるというコンセプトのもとで平尾貴久氏と共に長野県、戸隠にて行われた長期フィールドレコーディングプロジェクト作品"Hidden Bird's Nest"がリリースされました。

戸隠は長野市北西部の地区（旧・上水内郡戸隠村）です。山間部に位置するこの地域には、広葉樹が繁茂し、数多くの野鳥が生息する国内でも屈指の自然の宝庫です。

また、日本古来から伝わる神話を残し伝統と自然遺産が共存している貴重な場所でもあります。

Hidden Bird's Nest はこの地域に存在する自然環境の性質や微弱な振動、

生息している生物などを幾つかの方法によって記録し、収集されたサウンドスケープを再構築した作品です。

Hidden Bird's Nest photo gallery

＊国内からのオーダーはこちらでも承ります、詳しくはメールにてお問い合わせ下さい。

hirokisasajima(at)gmail.com

"With the aptly named "Hidden Bird's Nest" Hiroki Sasajima & Takahisa Hirao, all senses in alert, commit an uncommon dive into Nature's breathing Heart, the clamor of the world...

Purity is often usually a simple idealistic abstract notion - not here ; all sounds seem to have been captured in such a pristine way and in such full details that it seems to exceed the limitations of faithful reproduction...and one gets the feeling that suddenly the whole Cosmos is almost enclosed in a single resonance just in front of your ears...
Distance becomes abolished, and it's like if the listener is invited to become a vibrating & active part of the selected location...

Each sound has its own weight, color, placement and is the exact reflection of what it stands for...the restitution of an essence into all its components...

"Hidden Bird's Nest" should cross time easily, offering a veneer of permanence, while being an ultimate testimony of the magnificent Togakushi region..."

Daniel Crokaert

All recordings by Hiroki Sasajima & Takahisa Hirao
Mastered by Ákos Garai
Edition of 300 // 3L011 // MMXI
Order to 3LEAVES

James McDougall & Hiroki Sasajima | Injya

2011-10-19T21:21:00.002+09:00

label : unfathomless
format : CD ltd to 200 hand numbered copies
release year : 2011
length : 54’32 …
status : OUT NOW !

: info :
“Sometimes, the impossible is a basket of new unlikely seeds – realizing the geographical difficulty of working in unison on the same site, we opted for using at least common geologic context, not knowing where this could lead us…

What could come indeed out of distance, sensory communion, a mutual love for depicting the relief of things, its tactility ?…perhaps as with the best abstraction, a fertilizing stream, something perhaps larger than what the initial elements could have implied…something surprising even to us…

“Injya” is the encounter of our combined wanderings, and most probably the emergence of an imaginary entity powerful enough to engage us in a strange way…”(James McDougall/layout by Daniel Crokaert)

~

>>> order via Paypal : chalkdc@unfathomless.net

(Europe) : 14 € (inc.postage)

(World) : 15 € (inc.postage)

EQUINOX

2011-08-21T00:49:00.008+09:00

inscapes

2011-07-10T22:13:00.028+09:00

inscapes

国内屈指のアーティスト達が集結しフィールドレコーディング素材を使った即興演奏を行うTokyo Phonographers Union、海外からは初来日となるBlake Carringtonをスペシャルライブアクトして招き、今年から活動の拠点を東京に移したCelerのソロパフォーマンスが行われます。
この機会でしか実現できない貴重な内容を是非お楽しみください。

7/31 (sun) @ Bullet's

Live

Tokyo Phonographers Union

(marcos fernandes, sawako, 安永哲郎, 小野寺唯, 平尾貴久, 笹島裕樹）

Blake Carrington

Celer

冷泉

Open 18:30 Start 19:00

adv / 1500yen | door / 2000yen (+1drink)

Bullet's
東京都港区西麻布1-7-11 霞ハイツB1F
tel.03-3401-4844

contact for adv.tickets / info hirokisasajima at gmail dot com(笹島裕樹)

artist profile

Tokyo Phonographers Union
フィールドレコーディングを基礎に音の環境を探求するサウンドアーティストのコンベンション。周囲の音に注意し、ドキュメントし、楽しむ、そしてサウンドウォークやパフォーマンスを通してサウンドスケープへの意識を高める事が目的である。

Marcos Fernandes
横浜で生まれ、カリフォルニアで30年以上パフォーマー、プロデューサー、キュレイターとして過ごす。米国、カナダ、メキシコ、香港、日本の各地で、ソロのインプロバイザー、フォノグラファーとして公演し、パーカッショニスト、サウンドアーティストとしてさまざまなアンサンブル、ダンサー、ビジュアルアーティスト達と共演をする。アーティストを主体とするインディーレーベル、Accretionsを共同経営し、南カリフォルニアのクリエイティブな音楽を専門とするTrummerflora Collectiveの創立メンバーでもある。

sawako

名古屋出身の音響作家、メディアアーティスト。デジタル技術を用いながらオーガニックで瑞々しい世界感を紡ぐsawakoの作品は、これまで英国のWire誌や米国のNYArt誌などにとりあげられてきました。2000年ごろからネット上をベースに活動をはじめ、ガーリーミニマリズムの先駆けとして活躍。日常の小さな断片をきりとって、電子音とともに、様々な情景のうつろう懐かしくて少し切ない凛とした空気感を紡ぎます。親しみやすい穏やかな音景によって「microsound」「lawercase sound」とよばれていたジャンルの裾野を広げることに貢献する一方、その硬派でゆるぎない独特の世界感とテクノロジーに関する洞察力の深さは、世界中のコアなリスナーに根強く支持されつづけています。

安永哲郎

1976年生まれ。1999年から2007年まで音楽レーベルcubic musicに参加。2008年より「安永哲郎事務室」名義で海外からのアーティスト招聘やコンサート、美術展などの企画・プロデュースを行う。アメリカはオレゴン州ポートランドのインディペンデントシーンやノルウェーの実験音楽シーンの紹介をはじめ、ドイツの伝説的音楽ユニット「Cluster」の日本初となる講演会を手がけるなど、活動の展開は多岐にわたる。また、エレクトロ・アコースティックユニット「minamo」やアヴァン・フォークバンド「HELLL」などのメンバーとして電子楽器などを用いた演奏活動も行っている

小野寺唯

1982年岩手県生まれ。「環境/空間から捉えた音の機能と関係性」をコンセプトに音と音がつくりだす空間を含めサウンドデザイン、サウンドスペースデザインから家具デザインまでを手掛ける。アメリカの名門"and/OAR"をはじめとする国内外のレーベルより多くの作品を発表し、イギリスの音楽雑誌"THE WIRE"など海外メディアを通じて広く紹介され高い評価を得ている。

平尾貴久

東京郊外在住の音響作家。野外録音で収集した具体音・楽器・声など音素材の鳴り響きを抽出した音響作品を制作。幾つかのユニット・プロジェクトに参加し作品の制作・ライブ活動を展開。演劇やコンテンポラリーダンスとのコラボレーション・楽曲の提供。イベントオーガナイザー「77 color symphony」としてイベントの企画・運営。

笹島裕樹
フィールドレコーディングを主に各地で収集された環境音や現実音などのサウンドマテリアルを随所に配置させ独自の繊細なサウンドスケープを構築する。環境録音を通じて特定の場所や空間が持つ性質に焦点を向けることにより音の本質、またその可能性を探求している。

solo performance

Celer

2005年より自主制作リリースから活動を開始し、Infraction, and/OAR, Spekkなど世界中のインディペンデントレーベルから多数の作品を驚異的なペースで発表するWill LongとDanielle Baquet-Longによる夫婦ドローンデュオ。2009年にDanielle Baquet-Longが亡くなってからはWill Longがソロパフォーマンスを行っている。本年より活動拠点をカリフォルニアから東京に移す。

Blake Carrington

アメリカ　ブルックリンで活動しているサウンド・ヴィジュアルアーティスト、建築や文化地理学、ランドスケープなどを取り入れた映像作品は各方面から高い評価を得ている。また今年3月にDragon's Eye Recordingsから発表されたアルバムCathedral Scanは、空間の構造やその反響を自身のサウンドソースと結合するという大聖堂で行われたパフォーマンスを再編集したもので、今回初来日となる東京でのパフォーマンスも期待される。

冷泉

NERAE／夜抄記／Nocturnal Abstracts／NEUREC／Hiss-Atomosphere／

Tobira Records compilation release party

2011-06-02T20:29:00.004+09:00

6/25(sat) 京都のカセットテープレーベル Tobira Records によるコンピレーション作品の発売を記念したlabel show caseが開催されます。

duennレーベルのaftertapeに続き小野寺唯さんとのコラボレーション作品でコンピレーションに参加し、今回は初共演となるライブパフォーマンスを行います。

Tobira Records compilation release party

2011.06.25 (Sat)

Open 18:30 / Start 19:00

at Ochiai "soup"

Entrance Fee: 2,500yen / adv.2,000yen

LIVE:

Celer

Yui Onodera + Hiroki Sasajima

Hakobune

Nobuto Suda

Chihei Hatakeyama

Visual:

Yuki Izumi

Samuel Andre

more info:

Tobira Records compilation release party web site

Ochai "soup"

Cuatro Jugones Vol.3

2011-05-08T14:23:00.010+09:00

5/14(sat) ambiencephono主催のイベントCuatro Jugones Vol.3が三鷹”おんがくのじかん”で開催されます。

今回はUKのアンビエントレーベルSomehow Recordingsからコラボレーション作品"aspects"のリリース控えているYuki Izumi+Hiroki Sasajimaとして映像作家の泉　裕基さんと共演させていただきます。

2011/5/14 sat. Cuatro Jugones Vol.3@三鷹おんがくのじかん
op 18:30 st 19:00 1500yen+1d

Yuki Izumi+Hiroki Sasajima
Chihei Hatakeyama
Miko
naph unit

ticket and info
おんがくのじかん
ambiencephono

雨あがる

2011-04-27T20:53:00.004+09:00

4/29(fri)　青山、月見ル君想フのイベント "雨あがる" にて6月にニューアルバムのリリースを控えているmurmur recordsオーナーのYuki Aidaさんと共演します。

2011/04/29 fri. 雨上がる＠青山　月見ル君想フ
op 18：30　st 19：00　charge 2000yen

賃貸人格+三浦陽子(pf)+長沢哲(dr)+徳久ウィリアム(voice)
重力の水面　
Hiroki Sasajima + Yuki Aida　
カナタトクラス

月見ル君想フ
murmur records

Jez riley French / four questions

2011-03-31T20:50:00.006+09:00

four questions # 28 - Hiroki Sasajima

JrF: when & why did you become interested in field recording ?

HS: In recent years we can easily own the equipment such as the high-performance microphone or recorder. It was a chance to have owned one portable recorder before, and it caused an interest for field recording. By experiencing some field recording, I was able to know that a lot of sounds that we cannot predict were included in daily life and nature. The possibility that they have is unknown. This element of expression can be, with sensitivity, endless. I am interested to explore this.

JrF: how do you use your field recordings in your own artistic output ?

HS: Field recording is very important in my all works. When I express all characteristics of the material, sometimes I use them unprocessed. Or when the focus it on a specific part of the material, I approach an outline of the material and the internal details through processing several times. I restructure them again and compose meditative soundscapes. I usually reflect the inside of the material that it is difficult to notice. And their existence becomes clear again. Also, I believe that it affects the inside of listener.

JrF: do you regard 'natural' sounds as a musical element (bearing in mind that the conventional definition of 'music' is rapidly becoming obsolete) or as sound ? is this definition important ? does it matter ?

HS: As for natural sound, the expression of every field is possible with feelings or a scene. I think about these as a musical element. In addition, these can change in various styles by the thought of the listener. I do not like limiting a way of hearing of the music. I think that is to lose a part of the possibility. Of course even if it was only a simple sound...

JrF: has the act of making field recording had an effect (positive or negative) on the way you listen to your everyday surroundings and how has it affected the way you listen to other music and sound (if at all) ?

HS: Field recording has really many influences for me. There is still frequently a change in the idea to the sound now. As for me, such a new discovery is very exciting. And such an environment will bring growth of the music to me later.

Jez riley French ....'in place'
Specal thanks to jez.

Pacific Ocean

2011-03-19T16:23:00.005+09:00

東北関東大震災の被害を受けた方々に御見舞い申し上げます。

穏やかで美しい東北の沿岸地域と平和な港町の復興を心より願っております。

Pray for calm, beautiful Tohoku coastal area and the revival of a peaceful port town...

Recorded by Tohoku (Aomori) coastal area. December 2009

Download Free

You can support Japan by the donation.

American Red Cross: Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief Fund

PayPal : Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief

Yahoo Japan : Yahoo 基金

Far East

2011-02-28T19:16:00.005+09:00

Semperflorensから新作のFar Eastがリリースされました。
Far Eastは2009年に各地で収集したサウンドソースを異なる2種類のトラックに再構築したフィールドレコーディング作品です。

Far East is composed by two different parts. First of all, it hear to a metal, plastic, and several kinds of artificial concrete sounds from an inorganic drone and the noise. Next, it is a soundscape with some organic unprocessed materials. Each different sound material is corresponding as a delicate and meditative tracks. "Far east" will unite the separated different sense at another angle.

SF04 HIROKI SASAJIMA - Far East
format: CD in DVDBOX ltd. 500
Order to Semperflorens

"Far East"、すなわち「極東」を意味するこのアルバムタイトルは、環境や状況を作曲に取り込もうとするのではなく、神道のように物理現象そのものを神格化しようとする日本的な思想に基づいたものであることを示唆している。

ともするとオリエンタリズムに総称される東方趣味的な異質性のイメージばかりが先行し、正統な評価の対象としては取り溢されがちだが、作家が意図する極めてパーソナルなサウンドドキュメンタリーとして提示されることによって、受け手にとって有毒にも無毒にも（あるいは解毒さえ）成り得るであろう内部からの浸透を促す、静かな暴力性がこの作品を強固なものにしている。

Yui Onodera (CRITICAL PATH)

"Along with fellow compatriot Yui Onodera, Hiroki Sasajima is another young Japanese ambient artist to take note of. His latest deeply introspective work entitled "Far East" delivers brainwave drone sedation which will take you into your 'Alpha level' faster than a psychotherapist with a swinging watch...

Don't be surprised if you find yourself constantly snapping out of a hypnotic trance while listening to this tranquil and quietly exploratory work."

Dale Lloyd (and/OAR)

"Far East" demonstrates once more Hiroki Sasajima's uncommon & acute perceptive faculties...in this work, each isolated movement, each rustling seem expertly amplified such as to reveal their true essence, tracing back to their source, catching their primal vibration...

Withing the ripple itself, we become privileged listeners to our breathing, trembling world...

"Far East" is an uttermost organic journey for the senses where things happening normally only on the edge or in filigree suddenly occupy the foreground...

The caress of wind, veins on stones, the shivering of water, these simple realities gain new epic proportions, and the impalpable opens up...

Daniel Crokaert (Mystery Sea/Unfathomless)

As one of the forefront collectors of natural composition and experimental sound, Hiroki Sasajima's music contributes a unique soul to the current world of music, and our everyday sound. The sounds may seem placed simply on the surface, but looking just a bit deeper, and losing focus, the soundscape becomes more. Depth is distance, and material is movement.

In these days, it is refreshing hearing an artist who pays such attention to their sounds, not only featuring the natural beauty of the purity in the recordings, but in result creating an all new world, which is full of possibility. I look forward to each of Sasajima's works, knowing it will always be a fascinating new vision.

Will Thomas Long (Celer/Two Acorns)

Impulsive Habitat / favorite works 2010

2011-01-03T17:30:00.013+09:00

Lists of works selected by some label staffers and collaborators as their favorites from 2010

Impulsive Habitat label 主催による favorite work lists 2010 に参加させていただきました。

おかげさまで2010年もたくさんの素晴らしい作品に出会うことができ、とても感謝しております。

Hiroki Sasajima

Part of our staff and some randomly selected collaborators and friends were asked to make a list of their favorite works from the year that is just ending. We now publish this lists so we all have a broader perspective on some of the noteworthy works published throughout 2010.

THE LISTS »

Soundscapes in autumn

2010-11-15T18:59:00.005+09:00

-first symphony-

Celer Japan Tour Special
AMPcafe Koenji

2010.11.28

1000yen+1 drink order

18:30 open　19:00start

Yui Onodera + Celer
Hiroki Sasajima
Exportion
and special session.

more info 77 color symphony

Second release of Suikinkutsu

2010-11-01T20:09:00.005+09:00

Suikinkutsu (Digital Release)

This digital edition contains two audio file formats (FLAC and MP3) of the original work, plus an artwork (PDF and JPG) which is specially designed to the second release.

Order to 3LEAVES webshop

Nille reviewed by tokafi

2010-10-24T09:16:00.004+09:00

Paradoxically, the most radical and innovative music hardly ever stems from the most obviously stunning timbral creations. Extreme noises merely exaggerate and distort what is already there, after all. If truly groundbreaking art is about making the invisible visible and the inaudible audible, then it must by default focus on the hidden and seemingly trivial sounds which we pay no attention to in our daily lives. This counter-intuitive yet entirely convincing philosophy is the departure point for Hiroki Sasajima's current work. Just as with some of his fellow Tokyoites, including Sound Artist Yui Onodera and Jazz formation Mouse on the Keys, Sasajima regards the Japanese metropolis both as a source of sonic inspiration and an acoustic body. Contrary to them, however, his gaze is neither directed towards the busy streets and crowded spaces nor towards the quiet oases embedded into its chinks. Rather, his interest is sparked by the vaporous layer of sonic dust forming between these poles, by the emissions usually drowned out by the constant din surrounding us.

On „Nille“, his first major release following a string of netlabel publications mainly applauded within a small circle of connoisseurs, the determination with which he has followed this concept to its logical conclusion has resulted in an album of austere design and uncompromising severity. As on a lot of releases from the genre, drones and field recordings play a seminal role here. But - and this puts Sasajima beyond comparison - they never segue. Rather, both are treated as independent entities neither corresponding nor contrasting with each other. „Reflect realism“, the artist suggests in his liner notes and this seemingly simple assignment contains within itself the key to the compositional aim behind the music: The mutual ignorance between his elements uproots them and effectively places them in Sasajima's laboratory for observation and dissection, like insects and plants placed underneath a microscope. This, meanwhile, poses an important question: If sounds loose their „materiality“, „functionality“ and "natural context", what remains of them after this procedure?

The answer is anything but straight-forward, as all of the four pieces on „Nille“ present the audience with variations on the aforementioned underlying theme. On „Part 1“, a variety of sounds, ranging from liquid chuckling and aquatic gurgling to what could be the immersion of various objects into water, pass by against the backdrop of sustained and gradually condensing atmospheres, eventually culminating in a sequence of tiny crystalline bells. On „Part 2“, meanwhile, these ambiances become more insistent, especially gaining in lower resonance, while the accompanying transformations appear to restrict themselves to a single rustling sound, carefully changing over the course of the piece. As apparent as these different shadings may be on paper, by this point, the listener has already enjoyed almost half an hour of music, pointing to the psychedelic qualities of the material: Clocking in around the twelve-minute-mark, these are slow-moving meditations without apparent direction or goal, which one might easily perceive as „uneventful“. And yet, if anything, the approach is even intensified on the third installment, a warmly shimmering cloud of deep swell and gentle micro-clicks. Representing the only serious attempt at an integral fusion between the different layers, it almost disappears within its own ephemeral shell, space peacefully folding in on itself.

And yet, it is the conceptual heart of the entire record. It is here that the seemingly unaimed operations of the opening sections are revealed as a process of gradual withdrawal. Increasingly, the foreground as an acoustic area defined by increased relative volume and more pronounced tonal colour, turns into a void, the music slowly ebbing away into silence as if pulled back by a tidal force. What remains are serene drones, patiently humming far away in an undefined distance. Simply by remaining put, they have become the center of attention. It is only now that one discovers that one has literally been drawn into „Nille“ as if observing an intriguing picture in an empty gallery, shuffling closer and closer towards the canvas until one has arrived within touching distance and is looking at the structure of the paint itself – a vast, almost perfectly smooth, yet finely granular sheet of deep, dark blue.

Observing the unfolding of the process is not unlike taking in one of Kazimir Malevich's („White on White“) or Robert Rauschenberg's monochromatic paintings – one not only needs to reset one's expectations but one's focus as well. It is a return to the essence and Sasajima appears to be actively nurturing the notion by unfolding his materials with systematic meticulousness and an almost stoic calm. You can virtually see him standing out there in an alien landscape, pointing his microphone at bizarre creatures and playing with surreal objects in a bid of documenting their sounds with all but scientific precision. While many composers tend to either speed up subjective time or to slow it down, „Nille“ arrests it in a succession of singular moments devoid of any overarching narrative. None of them necessarily has to „mean“ anything. But the continuity and timbral coherence of this chain of instances makes the underlying flow of time palpable with forceful intensity.

Of course, the somewhat demure quality of some of the sounds on the album implies that one's first impression may not be one of great emotional engagement or intense sensory stimulation. But these qualities do come over time, creeping in one the audience like a nagging thought fighting its way into consciousness. And as is so often the case with more discrete but all the deeper reflections, they are sure to outlast their more striking and extreme counterparts.

By Tobias Fischer

Suikinkutsu

2010-09-28T21:10:00.006+09:00

Transparent Series new piece called 'Suikinkutsu' will be available as a pre-order via 3LEAVES webshop from 1st of October.

Suikinkutsu is recorded in "Stalactite grottos of Nippara" at Tokyo Okutama.

"Suikinkutsu" is a decoration of a Traditional Japanese garden.

"Suikinkutsu" is usually put in the Japanese garden, however, it is unusual for it to be put in stalactite grottos.

Drop of water to run down from stalactite at random plays these metallic sound.
Sound echoed with a bottle buried in the underground, amplifies it more by the grottos.
It is a particle of the beautiful sound that is meditative in deep quietness...

Music by Hiroki Sasajima
Haiku by Go Takemura
Mastering, Artwork by Ákos Garai
Limited edition of 25 numbered copies only.

Order to 3LEAVES webshop

Special thanks to Ákos Garai

Nille reviewed by Wonderful Wooden Reasons

2010-08-10T19:47:00.004+09:00

Japanese sound artist Sasajima's contribution to the always recommended Mystery Sea project utilises skittish field recordings in concord with sparse and mournful tonal elaborations. The nature of his field recordings mean that this isn't the most immersive of music as the insectile chittering serves to keep you at arms length from the music. It does have a nicely organic and bespoke feel to it though that allows it a modicum of charm and a distinct sense of purpose.

As I've said before my preference is usually for music with a slightly warmer mien than is displayed for much of this album but that hasn't stopped me from enjoying it immensely as it's a very nicely constructed set.
Ian Holloway

ONE MINUTE FOR THE SUN

2010-07-01T21:16:00.004+09:00

IOD 010 / Various - One Minute For The Sun

Download free

Nille reviewed by Vital Weekly

2010-05-08T13:40:00.004+09:00

VITAL WEEKLY 729|Frans De Waard

This is the second release by Hiroki Sasajima we hear, following 'Monogenic' on Sentient Recognition Archive (see Vital Weekly 699).
'Nille' is a much different work than 'Monogenic'.
That one was alike the works of Jonathan Coleclough and Paul Bradley, here in the first piece, its seems that the field recordings are largely unprocessed.
I can imagine him on a boat on the 'Nile' (I don't know what 'Nille' means, but I keep reading 'Nile'), with contact microphones attached to it to capture some far away water sounds.
In other tracks we learn that the boat is with a motor and the hum is being picked, albeit also far away to which he adds loops of concrete sounds.
Its hard to say what those sounds are. At the very best I can see these are rumbles of some kind.
Its all quite minimal with just a few sounds that are only altered in a minimal way, but the material is quite intense, spooky even. One could say that the third parts (2, 3 and 4) have a similar built up, drawing from quite a similar set of sounds, which is perhaps a pity.
But overall this I thought was a great release.
One that fits the Mystery Sea quite well: drone like, water like and mysterious.

Mystery Sea - press release

2010-04-19T18:45:00.008+09:00

Out since April 12, 2010
Hiroki Sasajima "Nille"

Tokyo sound artist Hiroki Sasajima has recently been marking his own territory into field recordings.
From his early close contacts with mesmeric forms of ambient music, he has quickly veered towards a much more daring & fully grown sound assemblage where substrates of discreet & substantive drones serve as spine to astoundingly enhanced & almost prehensile processed field recordings...simultaneously these give out an extraordinary zen imbued concision & purity...
Hiroki has undoubtedly an acute ear for sonic details & striking microtextures, managing to interiorize with a natural grace precise portions of his immediate experienced environment...
After various contributions to netlabels on the cutting edge (Mandorla, Ripples, Q-Tone, Impulsive Habitat...) and first physical releases
("Renz" on Q-Tone, & "Monogenic" on SRA...), Hiroki is now very much in demand, and assured to extend his explorations alongside many yet unpaved roads...
There at the birth of his undeniable talent, Mystery Sea is VERY thrilled to present you his engulfing specific opus "Nille"...

Rubbing of surfaces, minute frictions
in open spaces, cavities, corners, somber alleys & backyards...
"Nille" fathoms elements in search of their inner memory,
listening to their own voice,
breathing new life to small debris or vegetal remains...

Sustained by primordial hums,
"Nille" dissects and restores,
each noise becoming a receptacle, a refuge,
a lodge for ambered moments & atoms in motion...

Gazing at everything outside,
"Nille" ingests literally the landscape
picking up its most intimate flux,
the sublimated in the apparent well-known...

"Nille" merges with its surroundings and every object,
and from a single animistic reflection in a neglected pool,
it can stir you up to unsuspected, elating interaction...

Nille

2010-04-12T22:03:00.007+09:00

Mystery Sea 60

Hiroki Sasajima "Nille"

CDR ltd to 100 numbered copies.

All recordings in Tokyo 2008-2009.

Order to Mystery Sea

Special thanks to Daniel Crokaert.

Into the nothings

2010-03-12T22:01:00.007+09:00

All field recordings were collected around some lakes at the foot of Mt. Fuji when the sacred mountain is enveloped by night and quietness comes in. A sort of faint sound appears and disappears cyclically and in addition the flow of cold air exudes another identical quietness...

Hiroki Sasajima has released a series of highly recommended works on many notable labels such as SRA, Q-Tone and Mandorla to mention a few; now for our sixth release Impulsive Habitat is glad and privileged to publish Hiroki's latest release "Into the nothings" a work that was produced with sounds captured on the lakes that surround the Mount Fuji in Japan. This is a very fine and delicate work full of rich details and beautiful sounds that embrace the listener into an amazing experience.
Download free

Special thanks to Juan José Calarco, Pedro Leitâo and David Vélez.

crossion

2010-02-28T19:46:00.010+09:00

Tobira Records 02
Hiroki Sasajima-crossion
type:cassette
limited 50

Order to Tobira Records

Special thanks to Nobuto Suda, Hakobune, Yuki Izumi, and Tobira Records.