Originally from Yokohama in Japan, tajima hal has been making genre-defining music for some years now. tones, his 2015 release blew people away with beautiful melodies and hard-hitting beats that didn’t go unnoticed by the real beat-heads. He is back with a new release on Urban Waves Records titled Isolated Planet, and my god is this a good one.

Featuring key progressions that are complemented by subtle synth leads and bass-heavy beats, this album’s fluidity and consistency in sound makes for an engaging and memorable listen. With retro-sounding samples and an animated melodic tone to it, Isolated Planet sounds colourful, quirky and incredibly pretty. There is so much depth to the layers of instrumentation too, with percussion and keys intertwining with one another over tight drumming. Tracks like “Crystal Eyes,” “In The Mood” and “Marooner” are examples of this, as they paint a joyful sonic landscape effortlessly. As mentioned, the fluidity of this tape is down to the amazing sequencing of tracks, which flows like a river would into the ocean. Utterly mesmerising project by one of the best Japanese producers right now.

Listen to tajima hal’s new album Isolated Planet below via Bandcamp and make sure you support the music in any way you can!