One of the most electrifying groups of the last 15 years, Japanese quintet Kikagaku Moyo decided to call it quits after a much-lauded world tour in 2022. Their shows were transcendent – the fusion of traditional Japanese musical conventions with modern-day psychedelia and a deep understanding of music from across the globe, Kikagaku Moyo (“geometric patterns” in Japanese) was a force to witness live, and their breakup has only increased their legendary status among fans of exploratory music.

All of this is to say that the debut solo LP from KM’s drummer/vocalist Go Kurosawa, Soft Shakes, was highly anticipated.

The first noteworthy aspect of this record is that Kurosawa plays all the instruments himself. Multi-instrumentalists are not exactly uncommon these days, but it’s rare to hear a musician sound so free on each one. Kurosawa singlehandedly weaves a tapestry of steamy jungles, monsoon rain on the roof, the clear, stark air on top of a mountain, and the stone-cold, big city, just plain cool vibe that you can only identify when you hear it.

Mystical, groovy, shimmering, hazy, I could go on, but one thing Soft Shakes is NOT, is boring. Repeated listens reveal multiple levels to the songs, rewarding the listener with surprising new treats every time.

My biggest complaint with this record is that it’s over before you want it to be. The rich, delicious textures, the crystalline exploration, and the obvious fun Kurosawa is having make Soft Shakes an absolute delight, and one of my favorite records of this year.