Satomimagae - Taba (RVNG Intl.)

Satomimagae has serious hazy ambient folk and ethereal singer songwriting form. She hit the ground running back in 2012 with her low gravity, at times post rock hinting debut LP, and followed that up with a couple of accomplished LPs for Japanese ambient legend Chihei Hatakeyama’s White Paddy Mountain label where she dialled back the electronics a tad to shine a light on her guitar and vocal essence, before heading over the Pacific expanses to RVNG Intl., her present label home, where she appears to be honing an even more air cushioned approach.

Fortunately on her new LP not too much has changed, so if you liked any of her previous LPs then you’ll immediately feel right at home, those translucent vocals and softly plucked guitar still melt into what sounds like the ambient soundscapes to your most pleasant dreams.

On Taba though she’s repurposed these waking dreamscapes as a bridge to an earthly entwined spirit world to gain an unsleeping spectral view on the comings and goings of humanity in an attempt to grasp the group dynamics and domino effects of even the smallest interpersonal actions and report back to us through ethereal song. Every recluse or social butterfly flapping its wings has unquantifiable social ramifications, and Satominmagae is gently encouraging us to give that some thought.

So far so normal, but how about that evolution? Well apart from the usual polishing improvements that practise and studio dedication provides, there’s a subtle hint of, whisper it, socially acceptable song forms on a few of the tracks. There’s even some non-chart worrying “singles” like the patiently building “Tonbo” that could even make it onto more open minded indie-folk playlists or the dream pop primed, “Many”. Marvel at the rhythmic, hook and horn licked “Horo Horo” although even that has a twenty second field recording outro to lessen the shock. Some might also point to the catchy, vaguely familiar vocal or guitar refrains on “Omajinai”, “Tent” or “Dotsu”, but if this is the future of folk or dream pop then bring it on.