Legend has it that underground Tokyo music legend Akai Ikuo is capable of playing any instrument at basically the drop of a hat. As if to prove this fact his latest limited edition release, and first outside of his native Japan, Language Without Words finds him tackling no less than 40 different instruments, which alone is quite impressive, as well as the fact that he somehow managed to assemble this eccentric sounding sonic collage all on his own.
Although the music on Language Without Words is primarily electronic in nature as Akai employs a variety of fractured beats and rhythms, it's also quite apparent that beneath these sonic layers , he also has his feet firmly planted in the jazz world as well. These compositions (ten listed on the back cover, but twelve included, clocking in at just thirty minutes) are a quirky, sublime bunch that come off as somewhat avant-garde, yet strangely enough also highlight his keen sense of just how effective a simple melody can be as well. When it's all blended together it translates into a unique fusion that blurs the lines of actual musical styles. Whether he's squawking out notes on a saxophone, adding exotic calypso-esque percussion, tinkering away on the piano, laying down a bit of funky guitar as he does quite effectively on the aptly named "Playing A Guitar" or experimenting with a scratchy record, blues feel of "Dual Ole Attack", it all comes together with a remarkable sense of cohesion.
Language Without Words isn't really out there enough for it to be really considered avant-garde, nor is it straight ahead jazz or your standard electronica fare, so it's hard to really pigeonhole it, which is actually a good thing. I'm not sure what the market is for this music or exactly what demographic it will appeal to, However if approached with an open mind, with the musical blinders off, one will discover a surprising amount of depth waiting beneath what appears to be a simplistic musical veneer.
Track Listing
1) Cha-Ri Trip
2) Night In November
3) Red Hot Noodle
4) Playing A Guitar
5) I Don't Like Such A Hot Day
6) Heart Beat
7) Step, Step, Step
8) Rain In Mitaka
9) Dual Ole Attack
10) Omake
11) [Untitled]
12) [Untitled]
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