Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on March 2010

Courtesy of Liquidnote

Studio engineer So Akashi works with cutting-edge Japanese electronic acts like Handsomeboy Technique, Hideki Kaji and Uran Okajima. Nanofingers is his solo project, and like so many studio whizzes, Akashi takes a mellower turn when working alone. His third album to date is heavily piano/keyboard driven, and the tracks have a tranquility that transcends the usual forgettable film-soundtrack qualities of this genre. “Q Suite (1&2)” pulls you in with its lilting river current—simultaneously hypnotic and melodic. “Mishuku” spirals between a classical piano concert hall and a rave chillout room. “Satellite Village” recalls Deep Forest’s mid-’90s heyday, but somehow manages to be interesting rather than annoying—Akashi’s mystical blend of vocal splashes, keyboard and programmed strings must be doing something right.