Kuniyuki Takahashi crafts a borderless sound rooted in deep house, blending jazz improvisation, African rhythms, soulful elements, and organic instrumentation. His music stands out for its spiritual depth and live energy, often fusing electronic beats with acoustic spontaneity—like conga-driven grooves paired with free-form piano. Early influences include Yellow Magic Orchestra, Kraftwerk, and Brian Eno, sparking his synth experiments from age 14, while later works nod to industrial and EBM roots under aliases like Koss. This evolution creates tracks that stir emotion across genres, from ambient to techno, always aiming for a heart-stirring moment.
Key Releases
• Precious Hall (2002): A Sapporo club tribute on Joe Claussell’s Natural Resource label, earning global DJ praise.[zoomjapan]
• We Are Together (2006): Debut album launching a seven-album run.[tokyo.mutek]
• Feather World (2012): Featured jazz pianist Fumio Ishibashi and Henrik Schwarz, marking a collaborative new phase with guests like Sona Diabaté.[last +1]
• Early Tape Works (1986-1993, Vol. 1, 2018): Archival ambient and experimental material via Music from Memory.
Notable Collaborations
Takahashi remixed Ananda Project’s “Cascades of Colour” and contributed to 4Hero’s Dego’s 2000Black compilation, while “Earth Beats” on Mule Musiq drew fervent DJ support. Recent ties include DJ Nature, Mr Raoul K, Asazaki Ikue (Amami folk), MAREWREW (Ainu songs), and Mouse On The Keys; his “Acid Air” appeared on DJ EMMA’s Acid City 2, played by DJ Harvey. Live sets worldwide—from Europe to South Africa—highlight his improv-dance fusion.
