Some of us have been afforded a beautiful opportunity to go to school, work, and hopefully make something meaningful out of this time left to us, but it's a daunting task. Every day is a barrage of images, sounds, emotions. There's so much to enjoy, so much to remember, so much to do. This dizzying fuzz builds up in the back of your head when your brain can't quite make sense of what's happening and if you're not careful, things can start to lose their meaning. Thankfully, every once in awhile, an artist arrives to help alleviate the pressure. Music can serve a million purposes, and the one that Nujabes serves with his music is as essential to human survival today as long walks in the park, cuddling, and sunbathing.
None of those things are essential?
Then they're a luxury that us fortunate living creatures should really consider indulging in more. When a song like "Feather" plays, that fuzz pours out the back of your head and dissipates completely. Pupils dilate and clarity returns just long enough to fall in love with the sounds and colors so expertly crafted into a Nujabes song. And when the song becomes familiar, so do the brilliant shades of blue and the warm browns and reds.
His music takes the sensory overload and arranges it into something meaningful.
But decorative language aside, Nujabes is an artist that speaks through his beats in a way that is really worth paying attention to, especially considering that most songs are little more than a single repeated phrase. It's not a complicated formula -- a tonal piano melody, a jazzy drum beat, a trumpet or saxophone, some vocal features here and there -- but Nujabes manages to take that system and turn it into something alive and moving and soothing. It's impossible to put into words exactly how it feels to immerse yourself in the Japanese producer/DJ's works, and yet I thought I would give it a shot. Nujabes doesn't ever try to overwhelm in his beats. He keeps it simple and easy to remember. One good hook is all it takes to keep things locked in your head and from there, layers of atmospheric effects help to bring the beat to life.
Rather than recommend a single album or song, I suggest you look around for something that you love. "Aruarian Dance," "Feather," and any of the "Luv Sic" tracks are good starting points. If you're looking for an album, Modal Soul is a strong place to begin. Tragically, Nujabes lost his life in a car accident in early 2010, but what he left behind is a lifetime of beautiful work -- an autobiography of beats, and a discography of music that urges listeners to feel and react.
Check out "Feathers" by Nujabes --
Enjoy.
- Kane
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