Lou Cypher;3231020 said:
Great drop :tu I've heard about this album for years, but I've never sat down and gave this a listen, I'll do so in the near future though after that review, props :tu
If I could, I would mesh Nujabes 'Modal Soul' and 'Metaphorical Music' into one disc... in my opinion, Nujabes is one of the greatest producers of all time; that said, he never made a perfect disc and will no longer achieve perfection due to his passing away a year ago now, RIP. That said, my favourite disc from him, which doesn't contain my favourite song of his, but has a better collection; is 'Modal Soul'.
Nujabes is an artist I discovered through my love of CYNE. I was put onto CYNE here by I think 'Big L RIP'. After that, I searched for everything and anything I could find from CYNE and I discovered a Nujabes song entitled Feather, which featured none other than Cise Starr and Akin (the two emcee's of CYNE). The melody, piano loop, drum pattern just dumbed me out. I never thought that CYNE could sound better on another producers track, Enoch and Speck do a great job (the two producers of CYNE).
I listened, then listened again, then again and again and again until I decided to search for more songs from Nujabes. I found downloads of both Metaphorical Music and Modal Soul, which contained 'Feather'. These two albums along with CYNE's Evolution Fight kept me happy for months in 2005. However, Modal Soul seemed to be much more complete in comparison to the sometimes pure Jazz, sometimes pure electronic, Metaphorical Music. I enjoyed all the tracks on his follow up to his debut (not including Impression) and think that it's an all round better album. With that said, here's the track list:
1. "Feather" (featuring Cise Starr & Akin)"
2. "Ordinary Joe" (featuring Terry Callier)"
3. "Reflection Eternal"
4. "Luv (Sic) Part 3" (featuring Shing02)"
5. "Music Is Mine"
6. "Eclipse" (featuring Substantial)"
7. "The Sign" (featuring Pase Rock)"
8. "Thank You" (featuring Apani B)"
9. "World's End Rhapsody"
10. "Modal Soul" (featuring Uyama Hiroto)"
11. "Flowers"
12. "Sea Of Cloud"
13. "Light On The Land"
14. "Horizon"
Due to this being a complete mixed bag, there are some favourite songs (which are bolded); Feather of course is one of them, but Reflection Eternal is another 'mother'. The most beautiful piano loop provided by Noriko Close and matched by the perfect drums, it's one of Nujabes greatest tracks. Shing02 provides a great verse on Love (sic) part 3, which again has a Nujabes flow that takes you away from everything and anything that you're doing, like only Nujabes and arguably a few others (Michita, DJ Okawari, Nomak, Re: Plus, DJ Okawari and even the piano player for Nujabes, Uyama Hiroto). Substantial, who is still touring now for Nujabes really brought the album to another place on Eclipse; which is a track about missing his girl whilst on the road. The tracks personal touch from Substantial took it to new heights for an alternative Nujabes track that focuses on a depressing side of music in contrast to Nujabes oft-uplifting soundscape. Worlds End Rhapsody brings back the Nujabes flavour, as 'I'm fine and I love you' pours through the speakers on a loop that's been made into a part of the instruments as much as anything... and leads into the final great track, the albums titled track, Modal Soul.
Overall, it's a great listen and a great voyage... it has it's down points, but if I'm taking a CD with me, I always want to chill out and nobody can really accomplish that like Nujabes could. Rest in Peace to the God behind beats, Nujabes.
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