Title : Dance
Artist : Marihiko Hara & Polar M
Cat # : mnc017
Release Date : September 2016
Format : CD / Digital
Genre : Post-Classical / Instrumental Pop 

01. Duo
02. The Season Changes
03. Ray of Light
04. Monologue
05. Dance
06. Ocean of Night
07. Beryl
08. Asia
09. Gone Gone Gone
10. On The Silent Way 

“Laughing, singing, dancing
Laughing, singing, and dancing
Howling, sobbing, shouting
Howling, shouting, sobbing
Laughing, singing, and dancing

Dancing.”

After releasing their critically acclaimed debut album “Beyond”, Kyoto-based Marihiko Hara and Polar M (Masumi Muranaka) have embarked on a series of live performance around Asia region, including Korea, Malaysia and many places in Japan. Each time they performed together, the sense of how their individual sounds complement each other grew stronger. And with these live performances, their interweaving sounds have underwent subtle refinement – they become even more profound and exquisite, and far more interconnected.

While touring, the duo was also actively collaborating with dance choreographers. In early 2016, the duo was again commissioned to compose new pieces for a dance performance. It was during that time, their brand new 2nd album “Dance”, was conceived.

Through their interactions with the talented dancers across Asia, these two very gifted musicians started to explore the meanings of “dance”. Gradually, they have come to realised that, everything in our daily life can be regarded as “dance” – the rhythm of the changing seasons, the subtle movement of time, the weight of words, the shifting of emotion, the cycle of life, all parts that form our lives, are indeed in themselves – a “dance”. And in this gorgeous new album, using their ever delicate sounds, the duo graciously illustrated this aesthetic interpretation of “dance”.

Musically, the duo picked up where they left off in their very successful debut album - traces of refined post-classical, melodic folktronica, floating ambient, and glimpses of jazz, continued to be found in this 2nd album. What is more apparent in this new album is that the guitars had taken a more prominent role. As such, the sound textures and melody movements have become much richer and more diverse, which impeccably reflect the refinement that underwent for the musical style of Marihiko and Masumi.

The duo’s good friend, Mia Cabalfin - a renowned contemporary dancer from Philippines, who lent her wonderful voice in the debut album, continued to feature in this album by performing the hauntingly beautiful spoken words in the album title track. This album is tastefully mastered by Tokyo’s renowned musician and sound engineer, Chihei Hatakeyama, and features photo by Ken Furudate, and design by Seitaro Nishioka. In addition, the artist management for the duo is supported by the excellent people from Kyoto’s label and event organiser NightCruising. 

Credits:
composition, arrangement & mixed by Marihiko Hara & Polar M
track 5 : spoken words by Mia Cabalfin

mastering: Chihei Hatakeyama
photo: Ken Furudate
design: Seitaro Nishioka

To enquire about distribution, please kindly email us at info(a)mu-nest.com. Thank you. 

DANCE / Marihiko Hara & Polar M (album preview sample)

Polar M is the solo project of Masumi Muranaka who resides in Kyoto, Japan. His beautiful soundscapes are created mostly by electric guitar, and he is also a guitarist for musicians of various genres in Japan.

In 2010, he took part in the recording of Rimacona’s album and is a long-term collaborator and friend of Marihiko Hara. Apart from his own work being regularly played in local cafes, apparel shops, exhibitions and the like, he has also made a series of performances with contemporary improvised dance. Many of his works are used for short films and image arts which has led to a lot of collaborative work. Given that polar M majored in image arts and sciences, as well as working as an illustrator, this is perhaps not such a surprise. 

In 2011, the album "Northern Birds" (Nomadic Kids Republic), "the night comes down"(shrine) were released.

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