Birdcage – Shogyomujo (Shabu)
October 29, 2014 | Philip James de Vries
Months ago in our interview with Axel Helios of Shabu Recordings, he mentioned that when he thinks about Canadian electronic music, “one thing that comes to my mind…would be space.” Given some of the excellent ambient music currently coming out of Japan, it would appear that Japanese electronic musicians share some common ground with their Canadian peers when it comes to creating vastness through sound.
Shabu’s latest offering is an EP from Sapporo-based Birdcage, who brings an immense sense of openness within his driving techno on Shogyomujo. The absolutely massive “Shorea Robusta” and its driving alternate version see Birdcage blending heavy techno with breaks of wind-chime accented space, bringing peace to a type of aggressive techno so often associated with anxiety. The effect of these two opposing approaches Birdcage employs on these two tracks is a distinct departure from more traditional techno; Birdcage is unhindered by dance-floor expectations and shows no hesitance in guiding the listener on lengthy experimental tangents.
However, when Birdcage finally eases out of his day-dreams and back into his aggressive leanings, the satisfaction becomes intense. Without his meanderings, the rawer side of Birdcage’s techno would have a far less powerful effect on the listener. Birdcage deeply satisfies the craving for resolution that good techno so often creates, as he does on Shogyomujo.
With great remixes from Shabu regulars Avus and Borealis, Shogyomujo is a stunning work of progressive techno filled with personality and subtle detail that emphasizes the emotional expression of its creator, as opposed to losing characteristic qualities in pursuit of the hyper-production of overly polished electronic music.
Artist: Birdcage | EP: Shogyomujo | Released: November 2014
Label: Shabu Recordings | Genre: Techno
Rating: 4.5/5