Chris Coco New Album “Indigo"
2018.12.5. (wed) on Sale (2,300 Yen)
Calm “by Your Side”に続いて、Calm主催Music Conceptionからのリリースは、Balearicレジェンドの一人Chris Cocoによる新作です。
クラブミュージックに代表されるエレクトロニックミュージックは、その創世期に比べて巨大化し、そして重箱の隅を突くように細分化され、更にアコースティックなものまでも吸収して、まるでブラックホールのように増殖を続けている。
もはや一つのジャンル、一つの用途として括ることが出来ない、特殊な日常・非日常音楽として機能し始めている。
エレクトロニックミュージックの創世期から音楽シーンに関わってきたChrisの新作を、この度縁あってリリースさせていただきます。
初期の強烈なアシッドハウス作品、DJ Magazineの編集長、そしてイビザでのチルアウトDJとしてキャリアを積み上げ、現在はChris Coco名義でのバレアリックフィーリング溢れる作品をリリースし続けている彼の新作は、バレアリックという言葉だけでは説明できない様々な要素が詰まっている。
サンセットタイムのサウンドトラック、家でのチルアウトタイム、皆が集まってのパーティーのBGM、風を切って走る車でのドライブミュージック、移動中にイヤフォンで聴くプレイベートな空間の音楽、大好きな人へのプレゼント、、、このアルバムの存在意義は色々な側面を持っているはず。
前作”My favorite place”はサンセットオレンジの印象を強く受けるが、今作はタイトル通りインディゴブルーをモチーフに、青、藍色、デニム、空の青さなどなどオーガニックな響きを大切に制作されている。
こういった音楽はイージーリスニングとして勘違いされることもあるけれど、Chrisを始め第一線で活躍するアーティストたちは、その優しさの中に強烈な自己表現と狂気とカオスをスパイスのように散りばめながら、音楽ジャンキー、良い音楽を探し続けるジプシーたち、そしてこれから音楽の大海原へ漕ぎ出す若きリスナーたちへ届くように丁寧に作り上げている。
決して右耳から入り左耳から抜けるような軽い音楽ではなく、その時々の感情にフィットして、心を揺さぶる旋律であるはずだ。
今ではあまり音楽にどっぷり浸らなくなってしまった人への処方箋、そしてこれから様々な音楽に出会うであろう若者への新たなストーリーテラーとして是非機能してもらいたい作品です。
ジャケットのイメージ画像はChrisの息子Dexter、デザインはCalmの全作品を手がけるFJD、そしてマスタリングはCalmが担当。
CHRIS COCO - INDIGO
Written, performed and recorded at A Room, Ibiza; Calm’s Studio, Tokyo and Freedom Street, London
Mixed by Chris Coco at Freedom Street, London
Mastered by Calm
1 Event Horizon (In)
2 Pou Des Lleó
3 Indigo
4 You Are Exactly Where You Need To Be
5 Onda
6 La Torre
7 Slow Motion Saturday
8 Event Horizon (Out)
1 Event Horizon (In)
written and played by Chris Mellor / Antonio Prosper
2 Pou Des Lleó
written and played by Chris Mellor / Bandina Ie
3 Indigo
written and played by Chris Mellor / Calm
trumpet by Adrian French
percussion by Phil Clarke
4 You Are Exactly Where You Need To Be
written and played by Chris Mellor / Sebastian Lijla
5 Onda
written and played by Chris Mellor / Oora
6 La Torre
written and played by Chris Mellor
trumpet by Adrian French
7 Slow Motion Saturday
written and played by Chris Mellor
8 Event Horizon (Out)
written and played by Chris Mellor / Antonio Prosper / Sacha Puttnam
Chris Coco - Indigo
Concept:
Indigo - after my last few trips to Japan I have become obsessed with the colour indigo. I have fallen in love with the way this beautiful, natural dye clings to different fabrics and how strongly it imprints itself, even on wood or denim. I also love the phrase indigo child, used to describe next-level children of the age of aquarius who can see beyond our current obsessions - money, sex, violence, power - to a better, more peaceful, more inclusive, more cooperative future.
So I love the colour, the word, the idea. But how to translate that into sound? On this album I have chosen not to work with any singers or use any lyrics. I have tried to let the music convey an intense, positive feeling that can be interpreted however the listener desires. I hope it will help open, inclusive thought processes, something that goes deep, Indigo thinking maybe?
Track by track:
1 Event Horizon (In)
A short introduction to the album, a collaboration with Antonio Prosper, an Ibiza resident and analogue synthesiser freak. He also appears on the closing track, another version of the same tune.
2 Pou Des Lleó
This piece began life as an ambient experiment, an attempt to capture the peaceful spirit of a beautiful, rugged, rocky series of coves on the north east side of the island of Ibiza. I never felt like it fulfilled its promise, or captured the majesty of the location until I handed it over to Danish group Bandina Ie. They added some subtle guitar elements and changed one note in the bassline to make the whole thing sing.
3 Indigo
The title track was started and co-written with Calm, at his studio in Tokyo. We wanted to create a slow motion disco groove that could be used for dancing or chilling. I changed some of the sounds and added live trumpet and percussion at my place in London but the original composition and the collaborative spirit of the original composition definitely remain intact.
4 You Are Exactly Where You Need To Be
We saw the sign as we drove up the dusty camino and thought yes, that’s right, and, yes, that should be the name of the song. This tune was written in two parts - first a dreamy summer sketch from Seb aka Hush Forever, then a reminiscent play in London, thinking about the summer just past. I think that’s why it feels nostalgic and new at the same time.
5 Onda
Onda is Italian for wave, this tune is a collaboration with Roman artist Oora. He’s currently based in Brooklyn, doing his thing with a box of analogue gear. We met at Stella Polaris festival in Denmark where we agreed to make something together. Shortly afterwards he sent me a wavy 303 line and a few other elements that make up the framework of this track.
6 La Torre
Dotted around the coast of Ibiza you can find a series of small towers that were used by the residents as defensive beacons and places of refuge from pirates and other invaders in times past. Now they provide useful destination markers for walks in the campo. In this ambient piece I have attempted to capture that wonderful feeling of peace and serenity that can be found sitting alone at the base of one of these towers enjoying a little late evening sun with just the light, the air, the sea and the moment.
7 Slow Motion Saturday
At the height of the summer on the island of Ibiza every day can feel the same. Saturday comes around a just floats along until it finally finds its own groove.
8 Event Horizon (Out)
We loop round and begin again. The final track on the album is an extended version of the first.
Here, Antonio is joined by Sacha Puttnam, who adds some orchestral elements that I dubbed out to make them almost invisible. All that remains is the melodic push and swell around the insistent top line.
Chris Coco, Daikokucho, Osaka 16 March 2018
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