Picking up where Mark Shreeve, Corporation and Kevin Leonard left off in the mid-1990s, electronic musician Tadashi Goto has effected a new chapter in the annals of instrumental thematic rock. A score to a film that does not exist, Soundscape is dense, futuristic, and stained with emotion, a ride that effortlessly morphs from carousel to reckless safari. Soundscape is also an impressive debut, one that delineates Goto's synth skills admirably—
—and what some listeners will no doubt take to task is the programmed percussion. Or "canned" percussion, as it's usually referred to. The drum sequences are meticulously laid-out, and quite busy and note-laden. Well, sometimes less is more, and the hectic measures hinder tracks like "Swan Song," an evocative e-jazz portrait, and "Uncertainty Of Life," the overabundance of metallic percussives peppering a rather sultry composition. Goto certainly likes to keep things intense even at marginal levels; short pieces "Moratorium" and "A Priori," both laidback and piano-oriented, suggest diversity Goto will doubtlessly exploit.
As for Goto in his element: a huge — nay, monstrous — synth sound shatters the lounge-ific solace "World Update" sculpts with sine-wave pads and heavily-effected piano; "Lapstone" is uppity electronic rock that cheerily recalls North Star keyboardist Kevin Leonard's On The Edge and Automatrix releases, glassy sheets of Oberheim-ish tones surging to and fro, flanked by digital organ and staccato triads on a lush sawtooth voice. "Depth Interview" is most robotic in veneer with its jagged processed guitar samples.
"Loveless" demonstrates "canned" percussion can still sound slick and appropriate in the proper context as a lightly nasal sax and stock harmonica croon velvety passages over a friendly if plastic FM Rhodes. The title suite will no doubt win the most favors with its tapestried themes and overall breadth plus a wild array of tonal colors. While its six sections each bear an individual title the changeovers are jarringly obvious, as with the jolt received from "Apocalyptic Statement." This is better perceived as a whole; a serpentine trajectory traced to creeping ostinatos, screaming monophonic solos, pounding percussion and sleek orchestral canvassing, and it's evident Goto is all business. "Science Without Humanity" resumes the onslaught with feverishly cyberpunk machinations and more of those jackhammer drums. Goto seems to enjoy getting a rise out of his listeners — Mr. Shreeve, take note. "Yin And Yang" recapitulates Soundscape's mission statement and reintegrates accordingly in a most concise manner. Check.
Goto's follow-up effort should be an exciting one. Electronic instrumental music that resists an ambient, dance or new age slant is still something of a niche within a niche, and Soundscape's symphonic rock-meets-electro-fusion style is like a designer drug that's highly addictive. To not recommend this CD to fans of Motoi Sakuraba, Hal Darling and Tangerine Dream would be silly.
Tracklist:
1. Moratorium (1:24)
2. World Update (3:29)
3. Lapstone (4:36)
4. Depth Interview (3:37)
5. Loveless (3:54)
6. Soundscape (11:08)
_I. Collision Course
_II. Apocalyptic Statement
_III. Chaos And Complexity
_IV. Pendulum
_V. Chaos And Negativity
_VI. On The Edge Of Madness
7. A Priori (1:37)
8. Science Without Humanity (5:24)
9. Swan Song (6:03)
_I. Cold Turkey
_II. Zero Hero
10. The Uncertainty Of Life (4:11)
11. Yin And Yang (4:32)
_I. Grand Delusion
_II. Wailing Wall
_III. The Great Awakening
Total time – 49:55
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