YUJI MUTO & MIZUKI — Glow (review)

YUJI MUTO & MIZUKI — Glow album cover Album · 2022 · Jazz Related Improv/Composition Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
DamoXt7942
Really really surprised at their soundscape, to be honest.

The album "Glow" released in June 2022 was produced by a twin guitar project Yuji MUTO & MIZUKI. Yuji is already known as a guitar virtuoso with musical diversity like jazz, rock, metal, hardcore, ambient, or something, and has been quite active for launching various projects like Next Order, Palstic Dogs, and some duo improvisational jazz rock projects. He invited another glorious guitarist, Mizuki, as a partner for this new unit, and the two geniuses created an enchanting album full of unpredictable but comfortable ambience. I've already heard from Yuji that this album was completely kinda fantastic and an ambient ensemble but could not believe it in a sudden manner ... I assumed there would be something heavy or metallic somewhere in this production, actually. But his words are really true, and I pleasantly find his 'greatly ambivalent' guitar technique with Mizuki's wondrous storytelling can grab my heart out strictly.

From the beginning of the first shot "Thaw", calm, fluent, gorgeous phrases are wrapping the audience up. They extend mysterious polyrhythmic sentences around the turf but we cannot feel any awkwardness via them. Sounds like their eye and mind contacts should have perfectly been united and matured. They play such crazy complicated melodic and rhythmic lines in a normal, 'without-struggle' way. The third "Astral", where female hummings are addictive, is also a complex tune but we cannot find any turbulence nor weariness but heartwarming, relaxing atmosphere deeply in it. "Sakura (Cherry Blossom)" has simple repetitive phrases saturated with momentarily dreamy texture. Very monotonous but never boring nor disappointing. We can enjoy slow tempo peaceful quietness plus brilliant mysticism via "20-6", one of my favourite tracks ... let me say this is a sorta musical icon of theirs. On the contrary, the following one, "Caelum", possesses clear, unambiguous guitar-oriented personal touches all around. Also this should be their flavourful flavour, methinks. The last "Beginning" (pretty sweet that they play the song with such a title at the last of this album) makes us feel their primitive positive intention, regardless of calm, easygoing vibes. Every single track involves heartwarming marvelous aroma. Recommended for lots of people tired under such a tough situation.
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