In four club-geared tracks, Kyoto-based producer Ko Yang maps the allure of floating off-world and the joy still here on planet earth.
A founder and resident of Osaka’s long-running City Boy Lounge party, Ko Yang has been a steady contributor to Japanese music culture for the better part of a decade, hosting international and domestic artists at the homegrown CBL nights.
The offering is rounded out by a remix from Alex Kassian, a major talent whose name has become synonymous with quality.
The opener and eponymous track, A1. “Pony” - made for a friend who shares the name - kicks off with a chopped and distorted rolling break, indistinguishable and yet somehow familiar. Voices suddenly rush past, chords stab, and synths swell like fireworks shooting off an unforgiving planet. Ko Yang has wasted no time - we've arrived on his world.
A2. “Gianism” opens with a wiggly, subby bass born to make a peak time statement. Soon some kind of pad - or engine - begins to warm up, cutting out suddenly just as dub chords blast off. A voice enters, beckoning in an unidentifiable language. A synth appears midway in some alien signature and time slows. We’re in deep space now.
On B1., we’ve suddenly returned to planet earth. "Koinobori" is the name of the carp-shaped wind streamers that are flown during Japan's "Golden Week", a series of holidays at the beginning of Spring. Ko Yang's track is a worthy homage to the mood of this celebration: an elated chorus chants, children shout in joyful play, and melodic synths rise and turn our spirits toward the sun, toward warm, toward life on earth beginning again.
The offering is rounded out by a remix from Alex Kassian, a cut of proggy, tribal euphoria that seems to lift off indefinitely, and is already bringing clubs to a froth internationally.
Bliss Point is honored to bring you this collection of off-kilter, otherworldly club sounds from one of Japan's most exciting talents.
Produced by Ko Yang
Mastered by Anne Taegert at Dubplates & Mastering
Artwork and packaging by Chris Harnan