Tomoko Mukaiyama & Yannis Kyriakides - La Mode [Tomoko 0005]

Released on February 15th, 2k21 is "La Mode", the new collaborational album created by Dutch-Japanese performer x pianist x visual artist x director Tomoko Mukaiyama and composer Yannis Kyriakides which are presenting a second rendering of their 2016-performed work created for the opening of the National Theatre in Taichung / Taiwan. Recently revived for a live-stream concert throughout the first COVID-19 induced lockdown the hour long version recorded for this CD album, like the original stage performance for which the music was intended, deals with various highly conceptualized aspects of the fashion world and industry, weighing in a wide musical spectrum ranging from sparkling, ever cascading piano melodies, metallic scraping and unsettling low end movements to Aube'esque tonal qualities all to be found in the opener "Catwalk", touches base with Minimal Music in the subsequent piece that is "Nocturnal" whereas "Early Memory" combines a highly seductive, skeletal swing beat with sparse, hypnotic electronic loops and a focus on Mukaiyama's tender, emotionally touching (Neo)Classical / Contemporary Classical piano performance. Furthermore "Dress Code" strips things down even further to piano, silence and remnants of Mukaiyama's whispering voice whilst the concluding "Ito Rumba" goes deep into lively, yet somewhat quirky Electronica realms for a closing with a vibe that's able to set advanced dancefloors in motion, especially in a more intimate club setting in venues attended by a small but highly dedicated and well informed audience of musical connaisseurs. Defo our favorite cut on this album.

Album artwork on Instagram!