Stijn Hüwels + Tomoyoshi Date -遠き火、遠き雲’ (A Distant Fire, A Distant Cloud) [Laaps]

WHAT THE COVER LOOKS LIKE:

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WHAT WE SAY:

​Harmonious ambient ecosystem development is no mean feat & ironically collaboration is probably a hindrance hence solo endeavours are largely the norm, but the new LP from Stijn Hüwels & Tomoyoshi Date for Laaps is a wonder of minimal tones, field recordings, lightness of touch & ultimately synergy.

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WHAT YOUR EARS SAY:

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WHAT THE RELEASE NOTES SAY:

遠き火、遠き雲 (Tōki Hi, Tōki Kumo / A Distant Fire, A Distant Cloud) is the second collaboration by Tomoyoshi Date and Stijn Hüwels. 
The album was commissioned by Laaps. 

Tomoyoshi Date and Stijn Hüwels met for the first time in 2015 in Tokyo, being introduced to each other by Chihei Hatakeyama. That same evening, they recorded what would later become Hochu-Ekki-Tou, their first album, released on Home Normal in 2019. 
For "Tōki hi, tōki kumo", they teamed up again to create a slow and bright album, using field recordings, processed guitar, piano and synth. The title refers to a poem by Tadahito Ichinoseko, recited by the poet on the album as well. 

Tomoyoshi Date creates acoustic and organic sounds with a little touch of digital processing. He began to create electronic music in 1998. In 2003, he forms the group Opitope with Chihei Hatakeyama (released by SPEKK), in 2012 the group ILLUHA with Corey Fuller (released by 12k), and the group Melodia with Federico Durand (Home Normal). His solo albums were released from Flyrec (2009, Japan) and Own Records (2011, Luxembourg). Also he worked as emergency doctor until 2014, and started his ambient oriental medical clinic "Tsuyukusa Clinic" in Tokyo since 2014. Tomoyoshi currently resides in Narita, close to Tokyo. 

Stijn Hüwels has a profound fascination for minimalism. He's using mainly layers of processed guitar and field recordings. He released on Dauw, mAtter, Eilean Rec., Home Normal, White Paddy Mountain and Slowcraft/Lifelines. He released albums in collaboration with Chihei Hatakeyama, Norihito Suda, An Moku and Ian Hawgood. Together with James Murray he forms Silent Vigils. Stijn lives and works in Leuven and Brussels, Belgium. He's also curating Slaapwel Records since 2014, a label dedicated to music to fall asleep with. 

stijnhuwels.bandcamp.com 

Credits
All music and sounds by Tomoyoshi Date & Stijn Hüwels.  
Recorded 2020/2021 in Japan and Belgium. 

Tomoyoshi Date: piano, harmonium, synths, field recordings.  
Stijn Hüwels: guitar, pedals. 

Spoken poetry on B2 by Tadahito Ichinoseki. 

Mixed by Tomoyoshi Date 
Artwork by Lynn Pollard 
Mastered by Chihei Hatakeyama 
Design by Sprflxgrfzm​

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