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Objectless by Osamu Sato
As Sato's first published work, one can glimpse the very first inklings of his musical style within Objectless. Having first come into contact with his artistic style via the cult classic Playstation title LSD: Dream Emulator, it's fascinating to see the beginnings of such an iconic contemporary artist.
Admittedly, Objectless has a rather weak start. The first two tracks are repetitive and not very complex, consisting of electronic notes played in short, repeating patterns (very similar to what would become the soundtrack of LSD). Not a whole lot to latch into the brain. I almost lost interest and switched to something more engaging, but it gradually became like a sort of white noise as I let my mind wander.
Things start to pick up at the third track, “Radio Garden”. More elements, such as noise samples and drum synths, are gently introduced, never in such a way as to take away from the overall minimalism of the album but make the overall sound more engaging. They layer and overlap in an odd sort of rhythm with odd sort of time signatures. The best way I can describe the vibe of this album is "hanging around an uncomfortably large waiting room deep in the Backrooms". It has a disjointedness to it that gives it an eerie quality, while not being outright uncomfortable. Less like you're anticipating something bad around the corner, more like you're not quite sure how you got here and you're looking for a nice receptionist to ask directions from.
This theme continues through to the last few tracks, as the out-of-place sense fades, replaced with an almost tranquil quality. It's like when you go off into a part of your city you aren't familiar with and try to find your way back home. Eventually there comes a point where you find a street you know and think "Oh, I know where I am now.". There's a sense of relief that comes with it. You were somewhere unfamiliar, not totally sure where you were going, but you found your way and everything is ok now.
Highly recommend giving this a listen, especially if you're already a fan of Sato's work. A meditative and calming listen, whether you're relaxing or idling away at some task. The full remastered 2017 version of the album can be found on Youtube, Spotify, and the Apple store.
Favorite Tracks: Forest Factory, Eight Beat Infinity, My Stupa