Yuzo Iwata explores far-flung influences on debut long-player, 'Kaizu'

Japanese producer Yuzo Iwata has announced the imminent arrival of his debut album, 'Kaizu'.

The 10 track collection helps galvanise his steadily growing studio reputation, following a slow but steady stream of tracks released over the past seven years. Releasing and remixing under various guises – including Fabio Lazaro and Almost East – he's also part of the excellent re-issue label, SAISEI, working alongside frontman Junki Inoue to dig up lesser-known treasures from the Japanese dance underground.

'Kaizu' finds a home on the Butter Sessions label, with Iwata's last appearance on the imprint arriving in the form of 2020's 'Acid House' inclusion on the various artist compilation, 'Come Together'. The music featured on the LP spans wide-ranging styles and tempos, continuing the expansive approach to constructing sounds as he displayed on his breakout 'RA Mix Of The Day' for Clubberia back in 2017.

'Kaizu' launches with waves of ambient textures before ‘Neverland’ blends broken dancehall rhythms and acid-tinged dub. ‘Funclub’ harks back to Japanese video game soundtracks with an '80s fusion twist, before the album's Balearic thread resumes in the affecting form of ‘Heroes Show Up Late’ – with shuffling rhythms and looped vocals blending with a subtle Brazilian MPB garnish. Iwata's flair for percussion makes its presence felt throughout, nowhere more so than on the gamelan-inspired highlight 'Gamelion', where Indonesian charm infuses the contemporary techno groove. Japanese motifs arrive via the nod to Haruomi Hosono, 'Sundance', while environmental ambient has the final word on the hypnotic textures of 'Time 2 L'.

Captivating and imaginative, this is sparkling work from the talented producer. You can check 'Gamelion' here:

Yuzo Iwata 'Kaizu' is out June 3, you can pre-order it via the Bandcamp player above.

Patrizio Cavaliere is Mixmag Asia's Music Editor. Follow him on Instagram