DJ Krush – 漸 -Zen- Columbia Records - Music On Vinyl
For your own sanity make sure you find this soul-relaxing classic.
The diverse beauty in his music means every DJ Krush fan will have their own favourite album to cherish. Such is the vast catalogue of releases. And though it’s more than likely I’ll have to re-visit my choice to accommodate his superb 1994 debut album Krush, Zen—released a lengthy 7 years later—is, in this humble writer’s opinion, the one to fall in love with.
An album you’ll return to again and again, it crosses misty lines between trip-hop, hip-hop and instrumental percussion leaning on a love for jazz, break beat and electronica. Just the right amount of eerie vocals and ill raps add to the balance too, tipping the record over the edge.
Because Krush is first and foremost a hip-hop head, it goes without saying that every track starts with a beat, and for the majority of the tracks on Zen (’Sonic traveller‘ is nuts), it’s a subtle and mellow one.
And that love for the genre couldn’t be more evident than on ‘Zen Approach’. Housing one of the finest and most underrated rappers of all time, Black Thought offers laidback commentary within an unusual but successful setting for the Philadelphia legend. Thought doesn’t walk alone either, with fellow Roots crew brother from another mother Ahmir ‘?uestlove’ Thompson providing ridiculous drum patterns on ‘Railway Gateaway’. ‘Candle Chant’ shares the same branch but with Japanese spoken tales from Boss the MC it sits even more peacefully.
The main adoration for this release, however, stems from Krush’s overall concentration to nurture mind body and soul. It’s the most chilled and thoughtful of his releases, painting a spiritual place in Japan of blossom trees and vibrant green mountains (yes, I’m off my head). Beat-tastic opener ‘Song 1’ with a trickling xylophone and echoing piano notes along with crafted beauty ‘Day’s End’—a trumpet monologue helped by simplistic, looping acoustic guitar—are examples of his ability to achieve that meditative state.
For your own sake, make sure you find this.
TracklistHide Credits
A1 | Song 1 | ||
A2 | Zen Approach | ||
A3 | Danger Of Love | ||
B1 | Sonic Traveler | ||
B2 | Duck Chase | ||
B3 | Vision Of Art | ||
C1 | Day's End | ||
C2 | With Grace | ||
C3 | Candle Chant (A Tribute) | ||
D1 | Endless Railway | ||
D2 | Whut'z Da Solution | ||
D3 | ゴクラクチョウ論 (Paradise Bird Theory)
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Companies etc
- Phonographic Copyright (p) – Sony Music Entertainment
- Copyright (c) – Sony Music Entertainment
- Manufactured By – Music On Vinyl B.V.
- Distributed By – Music On Vinyl B.V.
- Pressed By – Record Industry
Credits
- A&R – Sachi Shinbo, Yuki Noda
- Art Direction [Artwork Co-ordinator] – Yuki Sugawara
- Artwork [Cover Artwork] – DJ Krush
- Design [Cover] – Michiharu Yasufuku, Noriko Asano
- Engineer [Assistant] – Takaki Itoh (tracks: A1, B1, B2, C1. C3, D1, D3), Youhei Ichikawa (tracks: A1, B1, C1. C3, D3)
- Executive-producer – Hirofumi Satoh, Noriko Asano
- Mastered By – George Marino
- Other [International Marketing] – Archie Maguro, Sampei Yamaguchi, Tomoko Yamamoto
- Other [Promotion] – Katsuhito Fujii
- Producer – DJ Krush
- Recorded By, Mixed By – Toshihiko Miyoshi (tracks: A1, B1, B2, C1. C3, D1, D3)
Notes
This release ℗ & © 2010 Sony Music Entertainment:
manufactured & distributed by Music On Vinyl B.V.
for Sony Music Entertainment. Made in the EU. COLUMBIA is the
exclusive trademark of Sony Music Entertainment.
- Product Code: W55707 2x12" 180
- Availability: Out Of Stock
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28.90€
- Ex Tax: 28.90€