Japanese producer and beat maker Chizawa Q makes his long-awaited return to R&S with the announcement of new album ‘Xenoverse’ and release of the first single a collaboration with Masaki Sakamoto ‘Beluga’.
Chizawa Q has long been on the radar of the pioneering Belgian label, originally releasing his ‘Lost Asia’ EP with them in 2006, which was rebooted with a new mix in 2022. His return to the label with ‘Beluga’ and upcoming album is testament to R&S’s reputation of maintaining strong relationships with cutting edge-artists.
R&S have always broken the mould throughout their catalogue of releases, championing music that pushes the envelope of electronic music and dares to be different, and the album, and first single ‘Beluga’, is no exception.
The track starts with a tribal rhythm and deep, brooding vocal that sets the moody tone early on. Shuffling hats and a rolling music loop emerge, driving the track forward, before jazzy stabs help to establish a solid groove.
The inspiration of Detroit Techno icons such as Underground Resistance and Kenny Larkin, as well as European jazz Techno stalwarts Steve Rachmad and Dave Angel, is clear to see through ‘Beluga’, with more than a nod to the old-school and contemporary.
This isn’t cookie cutter Techno with rinse and repeat drops, it is genuine contemporary jazz. This is an innovative musician exploring his craft and pushing musical boundaries through his exploration in sound. In that respect, Chizawa Q and R&S are a match made in heaven, as the label ethos continues to favour brave, avant-garde artists over acts with a large following.
The accompanying music video for ‘Beluga’ reflects that, with trippy, film noir visuals that mirror the abstract tone of the song.
Looking ahead to the album, expect a deep-dive down a rabbit hole that traverses a wide electronic spectrum. With collaborations on ‘Xenoverse’ from the likes of Masaki Sakamoto, Kowalewski and Dan Sama, and remixes from Makoto Shimizu, Chizawa Q is at the forefront of an increasing number of artists making strides in the burgeoning Japanese electronic music scene, and ‘Beluga’ is a small sample of what listeners can expect from the full, emotive album experience.
