New Akoustik Shadow: Cross Over

How do you go about establishing yourself in a music environment packed in tight? There are lots of electronic music producers scattered across Japan now, and standing out isn’t an easy task. Akoustik Shadow, on new album Cross Over, decided the best way to approach this tricky situation was…try out a bunch of different sounds. The result is an album that has its messy moments, but is overall a compelling listen, and offers hints at the best directions he might go.

Cross Over’s strongest moments are its least tangible – in particular, the first three songs here are weightless, practically drifting dreamy productions featuring a smattering of acoustic guitar. “Morning Coffee” is sweet, but more of an introduction to the bird-filled “Sanctuary,” which lingers longer into the eyes-on-the-stars “Take A Walk.” Beats become more prominent as Cross Over unfolds, sounding great on the zippy “Touch” and the sugary “Spangle,” not so great on the stab at Juke “Bootlex” (the album’s only real miss. The album also includes a healthy amount of remixes from producers all across the country. Get it here, or listen below.