Let me introduce you to our new author Sam Houser aka Fistula Spume from the MOG Community. He’s our first international author and might I add he’s one of the most prolific and sophisticated writers on MOG. Hope to see him writing here frequently, but I should advise you to subscribe to his MOG page as well if you don’t wanna miss any of his reviews. (I told you he’s a prolific writer!)

I’ve mentioned this artist on at least 4 other posts. I’m really digging him. I first heard of him on the insanely awesome “Childish Music” compilation released on German label Staubgold. Coincidentally that’s also my first encounter with Devendra Banhart and Lullatone. Takagi Masakatsu is a Japanese music and video artist. His music combines very playful piano loops and other sounds with samples of nature and outdoor environments. Foot steps, children playing, and various other sounds are mixed into his tracks from samples he has gathered from all over the globe. His visual work is very creative as well. There are a lot of examples on the net. A lot of his albums are produced with a DVD that showcases his videos for each album. His work is delicate, fresh, intricate, and it really helps your mind to flow along on an imaginary story line.

The track I’m posting is Spring. It’s from the album “Eating“. It brings to mind Spring by default but there’s something to me that makes me think of the beginning a movie and your following someone or something that is preparing for something. Like a Brothers Quay cartoon where things start and stop in a strange pattern except the picture that Takagi paints is much more vibrant and filled with the colors of life. Takagi has a great profile on Apple that showcases his work and other info about him (especially since he uses a Mac). He’s pretty prolific and has put out at least 11 albums since 2001 . There are at least 4 songs you can pick up at The Hype Machine. I really dig what he’s doing. Besides the track “Spring” I’m also posting the video to his song “Girls” which was made at David Sylvian’s studio and partly used for David’s “fire in a forest” tour. It was released on his “Coieda” album. He also worked with Cornelius on his new album “Sensuous” for the track “Toner“. I posted about it here. Enjoy.