Kakuhan – Metal Zone

We somehow missed this release from 2022, but recently discovered it through the announcement of Sara Udon, a one-time collaborative experimental quartet featuring CS+Kreme and Kakuhan. The Osaka-based duo Kakuhan (which means “mixing multiple elements,”) is comprised of percussionist / electronic artist Koshiro Hino, who is part of the group goat (jp) and also goes by YPY, and cellist Yuki Nakagawa. Metal Zone is a refreshing blend of rhythmic futurism and sonic experimentalism with Hino’s tweaked out beats meeting Nakagawa’s textural and droning acoustic cello playing. Like many of Hino’s projects, there’s little melody or harmony to be found here, but that’s no problem at all as the rhythms, textures, and movements are completely enthralling and reach a fever pitch of psychedelia and tribal intensity by the album’s final track. Highly recommended for fans of Autechre, Holy Tongue, Shackleton, and CS+Kreme.

Recommended – Full Listen