Kaito - Hundred Million Light Years

[kid cue]

Wow. I'm rather stunned by this latest LP on the Kompakt label. I enjoyed Kaito's first full-length, and the intervening singles, but this one really takes the cake. I like the new combination of atmospheric drones and more concise melodies--compared to Special Life's exposition and counterpoint--which quite befits the drum machine. (To me, the beatless ambient Special Love felt truer to his intent, in a way, if that seems plausible.) The tracks feel both streamlined and weightier than before, and convey a sort of "feel good" emotion without becoming trite. On the contrary, they are more moving than most of the house music I've heard this year (admittedly, not very much).

My hands-down favorite is "Nobody Could Be Alone".