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Far-Off Climes: Ryoma Sakoh’s “Island…”

The ellipses at the end of the title here tell you a lot. Kagoshima-based artist Ryoma Sakoh conjures up images of coastlines and easy-breezy days in the sun on “Island’s…” gentle glide, highlighted by bell chimes and piano notes. It’s at times relaxing and calming, tied together by Sakoh’s near-whispered vocals. Yet that barely-there voice coupled with an electronic gauze that engulfs the whole song makes “Island…” feel like a memory, or simply a desire. This feeling of not quite being there…but wanting it so badly you practically imagine it to be…adds a nice tension to this song. Listen above.