maya ongaku - Nothing Space Music Review

*** This blog post first appeared in TSMM's October 4th Newsletter, where you can get all the tips (and more) first ***

Maya ongaku and I go back three years to their accomplished spiritual jazz-nodding debut. 2024’s slow-dance meets gentle pop-rock Electronic Phantoms extended the honeymoon period. And then they ghosted me - I was gutted. But this week’s chance encounter with their new LP brought back all the memories and put a twinkle back in my eye. I just hope they feel the same way.

The Fujisawa-based trio are talented multi-instrumentalists, capable of pressing, shaking, striking and blowing all sorts of objects, with Tsutomu Sonoda majoring in vocals, Ryota Takano a particularly dab hand on bass and Shoei Ikeda a consummate key tickler. As well as taking impressive care of their record collections (see photo above - I’m ashamed), they’ve obviously used the last couple of years well; their new sound is maximal-mellowness, and another beautifully crafted chapter in the thoughtful trio’s small, but perfectly formed catalogue.

The Nothing Space Music album title does a fair job of reviewing the album for me,and I can confirm the whole LP just stares, somewhat blankly but far from blandly, into space. Who knows what they’re contemplating, but there’s either calm composure or outright denial to whatever existential issues that might be occurring in Japan, although I imagine if the peaceful nature of the music is anything to go by, it’s quiet contentment - the closest most of us can hope to get to a Zen state. The album really is the softest, gentlest of affairs, without a bad bone in its body - a beautiful blend of spiritual folk, barely bothered jazz, fresh from the floatation tank easy listening, meditation muzak and sandy-toed sunset gazing singer-songwriting. Just lovely.

For more cultured, Japanese, easy listening vibes check out Masahiro Takahashi's In Another album on the ever great Telephone Explosion Records.

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Playlist Companion

Find maya ongaku in the Slow Balearic Playlist.