Review Summary: a dynamic duo
Having released three albums of quality instrumental hip hop throughout 1994 and 1995, Japan's DJ Krush concocted what is quite possibly his masterwork with 1996's
Ki-Oku. What really separates this album from the rest of Krush's discography is the brilliant work from accomplished jazz trumpeter Toshinori Kondo. Kondo's contributions throughout this album prove to be the perfect compliment to Krush's simple yet effective beats, which makes it unfortunate that the two of them never collaborated on another project.
It's really quite impressive how Kondo's playing never feels shoehorned or out of place throughout
Ki-Oku's 57 minutes. Neither DJ Krush nor Kondo are interested in being flashier than the other. They are more concerned with making laid back soundscapes for listeners to zone out to, and they certainly accomplish this goal over the course of the album's thirteen tracks. The synergy between these two allows them to create a masterfully restrained atmosphere which is both melancholic and soothing. Whether Krush is going to town with frantic scratching like on "Bu-Seki" or throwing in glitchy electronic samples on "Ko-Ku", Kondo is there to cohesively add his own jazz-infused magic to each song. Kondo's trumpet playing and Krush's upright bass samples on "Ha-Doh" truly are nu jazz perfection. If there is one song on
Ki-Oku that best exemplifies how powerful of a combination these two dudes are, it is without a doubt the third track "Mu-Getsu". Kondo's elegant playing over Krush's beats and gloomy sampling on this track is quite breathtaking. It's one of those songs that I wish would go on forever when I listen to it.
Ki-Oku is a great example of two musicians from dissimilar genres coming together and creating fluid music. Each song on this album is an experience in and of itself thanks to Kondo's tasteful playing and the intricacies of DJ Krush's beats and samples. If you consider yourself a fan of instrumental hip hop or if you are someone who simply likes to throw on chill background music once in awhile, this album will be up your alley.
