[ Also listen in our popular Spotify playlist MUSIC FOR HOME: https://urlgeni.us/spotify/musicforhome ]

“As I sit here
Waiting and wanting
Surrounded by the ambient blur of the city lights
Waiting at a stop sign
Wanting to go beyond.”


It is exactly this longing to go beyond, beyond the solitary musical journey, that brought these two very gifted artists from Kyoto to cross each other’s’ paths. Marihiko Hara and Masumi Muranaka (Polar M), the 2 seasoned musicians from Kyoto, after 10 years of admiring each other works, decided to take on a voyage together, and sailed beyond the charted territories of their music. And thus, the beautiful result from this wonderful voyage - a special collaboration album entitled “Beyond”, was born.

In this album, both artists went beyond their own borders, over their perceived views, across existing ideas and ways of thinking, to allow their emotions to flow freely in the music making process. As a result, Marihiko, with his gorgeous piano touches, and Masumi, with his heart-felt guitars, jointly crafted the 10 delicate, and breath-takingly beautiful music pieces.

Traces of elegant post-classical, sweet-sounding folktronica, dreamy ambient, and even blue-ish jazz, can be found in this sound-rich album, with all elements masterfully blended together to create an exquisite music listening experience. Piano melodies that drifted in like fireflies at night, layers of guitars that painted the backdrop soundscapes, drips of tiny electronics, spaces between the notes…. The exquisiteness in music that created by Marihiko and Masumi’s wonderful talents are simply beyond words.

Mia Cabalfin, the renowned contemporary dancer from Philippines, who befriended the artists when they composed the music for her residency performance in Kyoto in 2012, lent her beautiful voice in spoken words for 3 amazing tracks. The album is mastered by Tokyo’s renowned musician and sound engineer, Chihei Hatakeyama, and features photos by prominent Japanese photographer Marisa Shimamoto, and designs by Itsuka Sato of sonihouse.

http://www.mu-nest.com/release-info.php?f=mnc014

Dream Bird / Marihiko Hara & Polar M

“As I sit here
Waiting and wanting
Surrounded by the ambient blur of the city lights
Waiting at a stop sign
Wanting to go beyond.”


It is exactly this longing to go beyond, beyond the solitary musical journey, that brought these two very gifted artists from Kyoto to cross each other’s’ paths. Marihiko Hara and Masumi Muranaka (Polar M), the 2 seasoned musicians from Kyoto, after 10 years of admiring each other works, decided to take on a voyage together, and sailed beyond the charted territories of their music. And thus, the beautiful result from this wonderful voyage - a special collaboration album entitled “Beyond”, was born.

In this album, both artists went beyond their own borders, over their perceived views, across existing ideas and ways of thinking, to allow their emotions to flow freely in the music making process. As a result, Marihiko, with his gorgeous piano touches, and Masumi, with his heart-felt guitars, jointly crafted the 10 delicate, and breath-takingly beautiful music pieces.

Traces of elegant post-classical, sweet-sounding folktronica, dreamy ambient, and even blue-ish jazz, can be found in this sound-rich album, with all elements masterfully blended together to create an exquisite music listening experience. Piano melodies that drifted in like fireflies at night, layers of guitars that painted the backdrop soundscapes, drips of tiny electronics, spaces between the notes…. The exquisiteness in music that created by Marihiko and Masumi’s wonderful talents are simply beyond words.

Mia Cabalfin, the renowned contemporary dancer from Philippines, who befriended the artists when they composed the music for her residency performance in Kyoto in 2012, lent her beautiful voice in spoken words for 3 amazing tracks. The album is mastered by Tokyo’s renowned musician and sound engineer, Chihei Hatakeyama, and features photos by prominent Japanese photographer Marisa Shimamoto, and designs by Itsuka Sato of sonihouse.

http://www.mu-nest.com/release-info.php?f=mnc014





Modern Tales / Marihiko Hara & Polar M

Leaves / Marihiko Hara & Polar M

Click Here To Buy

Our Season (Dae Kim's Our Home Remix) - Marihiko Hara & Polar M

Euseng Seto aka Flica needs no introduction to the indie electronic scene, especially for the fans of mü-nest label. After his exquisite "Betwixt" EP released by mü-nest label in early 2021 (as part of the label’s “Music For Home” series - listen to the series >here<), the prolific artist followed up with a number of singles and EPs throughout the year.

As the new year arrives, he again returns to his home label with a breathtakingly beautiful remix single – an imaginative rework of label mate D & The Compass’ IDM infused track “La luna”. Sitting down on a hill after dusk, seeing the city skylight with full moon hang on the night sky, cars passing by from faraway street, and street lights twinkling from far distance, Flica used these scenery as the inspiration to rework D & The Compass’ track into a calm, minimal, waltz-like rhythm piano piece, resulting in a striking sonic difference to the original track that was filled with psychedelic IDM grooves.

La luna (Flica’s Moonlight Remix) is the second instalment in a series of re-imagining and re-work of selected tracks from mü-nest label's "Music For Home" series.

La luna (Flica's Moonlight Remix)

Click >HERE<  To Buy

La luna (Flica's Moonlight Remix) - D & The Compass

Since releasing his 2021 debut EP "To a Cat" as part of the “Music for Home” series by mü-nest label, D & the Compass, a lab-chemist turned electronic musician best known for his idiosyncratic work in electronic styles such as IDM and shoegaze, has been favoured by various music media, including MixMag Asia and German’s renowned electronic music magazine “GROOVE”. "To a Cat" cleverly uses simple beats and rhythm, merging of emotional material with hypnotic, abstract atmospheric groove. At the start of 2022, D & the Compass constructed an imaginative remix of "A Song for the Wounded" – an originally ambient-pop piece from Dae Kim, by infusing more emotional punch and energy to the originally melancholic work.

D & the Compass harvested a lot of samples from the original work, collaged them into a heady harmonic mix of electronic and psychedelic sounds. Beginning with a gorgeous dreamlike melody, that fluidity extends to some unsteady glitches and rhythms, and then eventually reaches its climax with distorted psychedelic dreamscape. "A Song for the Wounded (D & the Compass' Healing Remix)” is an invitation to keep living the dream.

"A Song for the Wounded (D & the Compass' Healing Remix)” is the third instalment in a series of re-imagining and re-work of selected tracks from mü-nest label's "Music For Home" series.

A Song For The Wounded (D & The Compass' Healing Remix)

Limbo (Shuzhen's In Limbo Remix)

一間間的小屋 流動的車輛 灰灰的天空
裡面都住著人 開著車的你們 天就快要下雨

我躲在這裡 想著生活 到底想要給我們什麼東西
我躲在這裡 想著你們 為什麼都在那麼遙遠的距離

喂 你說 怎麼都在失眠的夜裡 忽然睡去
卻惡夢連連的驚醒 驚醒

靜止的山脈 流動的生命 變化的天空
靜止的樹林 慢動作地在搖曳 是風在遊戲
我走在這巷子裡 聽著那旋律 怎麼世界忽然像在跳舞
我遊走在都市裡 繁忙的街道 我怎麼都感受不到你 感受不到你

喂 你說 要不要一起去旅行
你說生活 為什麼那麼壓力
讓你透不過氣 讓你透不過氣
喂 你說 怎麼都在失眠的夜裡 忽然睡去
卻惡夢連連的驚醒

喂 你說 要不要一起去旅行
你說生活 為什麼那麼壓力
讓你透不過氣 讓你透不過氣

[Translated Lyrics (original: Mandarin)]

HERE/THERE

A small house, one after another, moving vehicles, a gray sky.
Inside, people live, and you who are driving, it's about to rain.

I hide here, thinking about life, what exactly does it want to give us?
I hide here, thinking about all of you, why is everyone so far away?

Hey, you say, why is it that in sleepless nights, suddenly falling asleep,
Only to be awakened by nightmares, again and again, awakened.

Still mountains, flowing life, changing sky.
Still forests, swaying in slow motion, it's the wind playing.
I walk in this alley, listening to that melody, why does the world suddenly feel like dancing?
I wander in the city, busy streets, why can't I feel you, can't feel you at all?

Hey, you say, how about traveling together?
You say life, why is it so stressful,
Making it hard for you to breathe, making it hard for you to breathe.
Hey, you say, why is it that in sleepless nights, suddenly falling asleep,
Only to be awakened by nightmares, again and again.

Hey, you say, how about traveling together?
You say life, why is it so stressful,
Making it hard for you to breathe, making it hard for you to breathe.

credits
Releases: June 14, 2023
Written by Aki 黃淑惠
Rework produced by D & the Compass
Released by mü-nest label

Executive Producer: Wei

這裡那裡 (D & the Compass' Translucent Rework)

Get this track

這裡那裡 Here/There (D & the Compass' Translucent Rework) / ARVAN 阿爾梵

http://www.mu-nest.com/release-info.php?f=mnc010

mü-nest x PLOP special collaboration series vol. 3: "Sonorité" by Teruyuki Nobuchika.

“Sonorite” is the talented Kyoto-based film composer Teruyuki Nobuchika's latest work – his long-awaited 2nd solo album after the critically acclaimed debut album “Morceau” (Schole label, 2009). Having composed so many cinematic scores for films and television drama series, Nobuchika decided to adopt a fresh approach in his 2nd solo album – to explore the possibilities of the piano. Using piano as the only instrument, Nobuchika beautifully crafted his signature melodies and sounds that magically transformed the moments of everyday life into scenes as if there were taken from a movie – they are simple, but yet rich, beautiful and undoubtedly breathtaking.

“Sonorite” is a classical and yet contemporary piano suite by Nobuchika that will surely makes one tremble with delicate emotion. Its subtle emotional sounds closely resembling wonderful works by peer pianist like Goldmund, Johann Johannsson, Hauschka, and Akira Kosemura, This long awaited original production is the 3rd co-release from mü-nest (Malaysia) and PLOP (Japan), following the wonderful albums from me:mo and Kyo Ichinose.


Buy CD here

mou (full track download) - Teruyuki Nobuchika

相繼為日本影音藝術家okamotonoriski和馬來西亞電子氛圍音樂人Flica製作了一曲又一首細膩動人的混音單曲后，馬來西亞的新古典鋼琴師Shuzhen（陳淑楨）再度與mü-nest廠牌合作，這次是將馬來西亞獨立搖滾樂團阿爾梵（ARVAN）的音樂進行全新演繹，將其做出一種全然不同的風格。

Shuzhen以獨特的音樂視角，將阿爾梵的《沙漠》從原曲中的暗黑Emo蛻變為都市時尚的簡約浩室（Minimal House），打造了這首絕贊的混音作品《沙漠（Shuzhen’s Oasis Rework）》。在簡練而有力的電子節拍的引領下，阿爾梵主唱Aki深情的歌聲與之交織，創造出一種溫暖而富有活力的音樂氛圍，彷彿身臨其境，感受午後陽光的呼吸，與音樂共舞。這首時尚的混音作品讓人不禁想起英國二人組合Everything But The Girl的Ben Watt在Buzzin' Fly廠牌時期所發行的絕贊舞曲作品。

「我⼀直都想要做讓⼤家起舞的⾳樂」Shuzhen說起她這次的⾳樂新⽅向。

這次的演繹賦予阿爾梵的音樂全新面貌，將電子音樂的流暢和時尚感貫穿其中，同時融入Emo搖滾的獨特情感。作為一次音樂的蛻變，《沙漠》的重生版也是情感與時尚相互交融的獨特體驗。當午後之韻輕輕響起，大家隨著節拍的躍動，是時候準備好感受電氣時尚與Emo搖滾的相互交織，讓我們再次為音樂起舞。

此混音作品也是由馬來西亞獨立音樂廠牌mü-nest 策劃的「ARVAN’s Rework」⾳樂企劃裏的第二首作品。

Following a string of exquisitely crafted remixes for renowned Japanese audiovisual artist okamotonoriski and fellow Malaysian electronic ambient musician Flica, neo-classical pianist and multifaceted producer Shuzhen reunites with the esteemed mü-nest label, this time embarking on a fresh interpretation of the music by Malaysian independent rock band ARVAN. Shuzhen's artistic lens brings forth an entirely new stylistic incarnation, transforming ARVAN's "Desert" from its original dark and emotive emo-infused core into a sleek and classy deep house gem, a remarkable remix aptly titled "Desert (Shuzhen's Oasis Rework)."

Guided by concise yet potent electronic beats, Aki, the lead vocalist of ARVAN, intertwines her soulful vocals with Shuzhen's vision, conjuring a warm and vibrant sonic atmosphere that transports listeners to a place where they can bask in the breath of afternoon sunlight and dance in harmony with the music. This fashionable remix undeniably brings to mind the exceptional dancefloor productions once graced by Ben Watt (of the awesome Everything But The Girl) during his Buzzin' Fly label time.

"I've always aspired to create music that makes people dance," shares Shuzhen, revealing her fresh musical direction.

This reinterpretation bestows ARVAN's music with an entirely new facade, seamlessly blending the fluidity and contemporary appeal of electronic music with the distinctive emotional essence of emo rock. As a musical metamorphosis, this rebirth of "Desert" becomes a unique encounter where emotions converge with style. As the rhythm of the afternoon gently reverberates, it is time to prepare oneself for the entwining interplay of electric fashion and emo rock, to once again immerse ourselves in the joyous dance of music, and into the vibrant indie club sounds from South East Asia.

This remix also serves as the second installment within the musical project "ARVAN's Rework," curated by Malaysia's independent music label, mü-nest.

沙漠 Desert (Shuzhen's Oasis Rework)

沙漠 Desert (Shuzhen's Oasis Rework) / ARVAN 阿爾梵

♫ "Hero" by Akitsugu Fukushima: A Cinematic Journey in Post-Classical Electronica ♫

♫ Unveiling the debut post-classical electronic single, "Hero," from Akitsugu Fukushima, the maestro of contemporary Hong Kong film scores with Japanese heritage ♫

♫ Capturing the pulsating essence of adolescent growth, Akitsugu Fukushima, a musical prodigy of Japanese descent, weaves an anime-inspired narrative through the realms of post-classical electronic music ♫

Hailing from Japan, the rising star in electronic music, Akitsugu Fukushima (also known as Aki), has lent his musical prowess to numerous recent Hong Kong films, including "MADALENA" and "Our Eighteen." Some of his works have been officially selected as promotional scores for the Taiwan Golden Horse Awards (2020/2021), attesting to his ability to add vibrant hues to the cinematic canvas with delicate and vivid musical strokes.

Within Aki's creative vision lies a tale—a fantastical journey of a young boy's growth. Constructing an entire fictional world through music, his upcoming mini-album, "BOY 1," is a meticulously crafted creation exuding a rich Japanese Indie Electronic ambiance.

"Hero," the lead single from Aki, portrays a young boy enchanted by the heroic figures on television. Until one day, in a summer garden, he consciously or unconsciously takes on the role of his inner hero, striving to fulfill his own mission. "Hero" aims to narrate the story of a boy akin to an innocent prince, unaware that he exists within a fantastical setting. Despite the harsh realities, the boy's spirit remains hopeful.

In the production process, Aki begins with simple piano chords, gradually layering electronic and string elements to infuse the music with a distinctly cinematic feel. Renowned musician Kashiwa Daisuke, known for his work in film scoring with acclaimed director Makoto Shinkai, handles the mastering process. "Hero" successfully constructs a electrified post-classical palette, featuring a leap-like minimalist electronic rhythm complemented by a dreamy, fairy-tale-like poignant melody, making it Aki's most exquisite work to date.

Hero / Akitsugu Fukushima

"Boy 1 EP" by Akitsugu Fukushima

- Embrace the ethereal realm of electronic music with "Boy 1 EP," a mesmerizing creation by the Japanese musical prodigy, Akitsugu Fukushima, featuring vocals by an AI songstress.

- From the mind of Akitsugu Fukushima, the maestro behind modern Hong Kong cinema scores, comes the globally accessible "Boy 1 EP," a symphony of dreams in electronic soundscapes.

- Experience the pulsating journey of adolescence as envisioned by Japanese musical virtuoso Akitsugu Fukushima, who melds electronic beats into a cinematic, post-classical narrative.

Heralding a new era of electronic music genius, Akitsugu Fukushima (also known as Aki) hails from Japan. He's composed scores for numerous contemporary Hong Kong films, including the critically acclaimed "Youth," "Madalena," and "Our Eighteen," - which received nominations at the 58th Golden Horse Awards. His compositions have also been featured as official soundtracks for promotional videos at the Taiwan Golden Horse Awards and Golden Horse Film Festival (2020/2021). 

Notably, Aki's musical prowess has earned recognition from renowned Icelandic musician Ólafur Arnalds, who selected him as one of the winners at his music workshop. Aki's delicate yet vivid compositions breathe life into films, resonating within their frames. In Japan, he's also gained prominence for composing and arranging music for J-Pop artists, including Aimer, known for her songs in anime like "Demon Slayer" and "Chainsaw Man".

Within Aki's creative reservoir lies a tale—an enchanting odyssey of a boy's journey into adulthood, meticulously crafted into the forthcoming mini-album, "Boy 1 EP." Laden with rich Japanese Indie Electronic vibes, this album is a testament to Aki's artistry.

"Hero," the lead single preceding the EP, portrays a young boy idolizing television heroes, until one summer day in the garden, he inadvertently assumes the role of his inner champion, embodying a sense of purpose. "Hero" mirrors the innocence of a prince, unaware of his fictional surroundings, yet resilient in the face of harsh realities, his spirit brimming with hope.

Following suit, "Asobi" (Play) boasts minimalist electronic beats that beckon bodies to sway, accompanied by crystalline piano and strings, showcasing Aki's enchanting electronic allure.

The third track, "Kioku" (Memory), is a poignant masterpiece—its intricate Downtempo electronic textures intertwined with the graceful notes of a guitar, whispering tenderly in your ears.

Closing the album is "Suimen" (Water Surface), where a dreamlike female voice, created through cutting-edge AI technology, enchants listeners with its ethereal quality, casting a surreal aura over this captivating mini-album.

The mastering of "Boy 1 EP" journeyed to Japan, under the expert hands of renowned musician Kashiwa Daisuke, known for his contributions to Shinkai Makoto's film scores and his role as a judge at the Taiwan Golden Melody Awards. With Daisuke's expertise, the album not only elevates in sound quality but also flows seamlessly from start to finish. Adorning the album cover is a serene portrait of a boy, delicately illustrated by Macau-based artist Xiao Yu, infusing the release with spiritual grace.

"Boy 1 EP" marks a new chapter in Aki's musical journey, now available globally on all major music streaming platforms. Immerse yourself in the enchanting world of his dreamlike musical allure.

Kioku / Akitsugu Fukushima 褔島章嗣

Asobi / Akitsugu Fukushima 褔島章嗣

March 11, 2011. The decade’s greatest earthquake hit Japan, devastating cities, torn bodies, drown lives, crushed souls, and nearly sparked a nuclear disaster. Yet in the aftermath of humanity’s greatest catastrophes, amongst the imageries of painful tragedy, comes the greatest display of inner strength, unity, resilience, human warmth, civility and everyday gallantry this century had seen, not just by mere individuals, but from the entirety of the Japanese people, a true humanist society.

mü-nest presents Our Little Prayers (for Japan), a compilation of music gems by young, aspiring independent musicians from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, China and South Korea: artists who had found great influences and inspirations from Japan’s culture-rich indie music, and received considerable support from its music fans.

Featuring new compositions and previously unreleased tracks from some of the region’s best electro-acoustic, ambient-pop and post-rock musicians, Our Little Prayers (for Japan) represents the collective sounds of our region, expressing what we feel for Japan in the depths of our hearts with the most honest, simple, subtle but endearing sonic ventures. These are our little prayers to Japan - from an Asian, to an Asian.

Each number brings you closer to the tranquil beauty of the human soul, with floating melodies, enchanting instrumentals, delicate ambient compositions and pulsing rhythms. Reflections of our love, hope and wishes for a people who is once again set upon with the arduous task of rebuilding their home.

Our Little Prayers (for Japan) is a show of support to the Japanese people, a small gesture for us to give what we can, and a heart-felt salute to Japan for its great inspirations to our arts, music and our lives.

This is a charity compilation from mü-nest. All sales proceeds from the compilation will be donated in full to the Malaysian Red Crescent Society’s “Japan Earthquake & Tsunami” International Relief Fund. Your kind support is much appreciated.

***

6月30日にmu-nestから東日本大震災に向けたチャリティー・アルバムが発売になりました。
本作はデジタル限定発売で、日本のお客様は以下のネイチャーブリスのストアで購入できます：

www.naturebliss.jp/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=20_17&products_id=18361

our little prayers (for Japan) / V.A

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)

Lonesome can appear to be a tough task to go through in our life. It, sometimes leads us to existence without purpose, find a love one or even death in drastic cases. What comes as a closure from it, can be sometimes harsh or nurture us to be who we are today. And this is what we learnt from okamotonoriaki’s third album, “Happy Ending”.

Our Happy Ending EP consists of three new affiliates of mü-nest, Dae Kim, Burnie and Shuzhen, bringing re-worked versions of the song, expressing different perspective to their happy endings.

Korea-born producer/composer, Dae Kim, captures similar serendipity with the original track. The song is quite susceptible to sappy tendencies and rather pop infused at times. The rhythms are the decorations rather than the element that carries the songs’ momentum, when rather the melodies’ and musical notes create flows and rhythm for the listeners to hold on to. Reminiscing poem subtly lies within the layers of synthesizers.

On the other hand, Burnie, who released his debut album, “Lotus City” last January through 4daz-le Records, offers rather different perspective to the mix. The song introduces itself with a sampled vocals and the poem surrounded by lush synthscapes, collaged narratively. The part that makes this remix comparatively special is when the tastefully constructed beat with well mashed amount of swing emerges into the song. Furthermore, grim yet sentimental distorted ambient guitar shifts its emotion to rather sanguine with xylophones complementing the blend, which shows the Macao producer/DJ’s own closure of the song.

Meanwhile, Shuzhen offers more minimalistic approaches to her epilogue. Classically trained pianist, who arises from Johor Bahru of Malaysia has paved her path to be a composer by collaborating with local artists for variety of different projects. The Johor Bahru composer invigorates her arrangement with subtle soundscapes and the poem. Dramatic tendencies form itself through uplifting yet bittersweet phased chords of piano slowly fading in. When the drums fades out to present contrasting synthscapes, which elaborate themselves to form complex yet sumptuous kaleidoscope of sound which reflects her distinctive feminine sensitivity.

What separates us from one to another is how we define a happy ending. For some, what defines a happy ending would be a success in life, whereas for some, it is simply to get a taste of their favorite meal. Perhaps, the happiest ending possible in our life is in us. To truly understand ourselves and what lies ahead of us.

Our Happy Ending EP

Happy Ending (Okamotonoriaki's Original Ver.)

關於這首remix:
"某夏夜我一個人到海邊，月光下一張不知在大海漂流了多久的透明45轉唱片離我不遠處擱淺，內容已經無法考察，不過我相信那會是像這樣的一首歌。" 
- .glk -

關於.glk:
.glk是馬來西亞鬼才聲音藝術家吳利光為了預防老人癡呆症的又一化身。一反一向來抽象、虛無縹緲的取向，更注重於結構/解構、聲音的解剖與重建，運用多元化的電腦程式重塑電音時代的美好時光。

夏季悲歌(仲夏夜之夢.glk)- 四枝筆 Four Pens

taken from the album "The Fabric" (mü-nest, 2010)

Grab the CD here!

07 Kiki - [Post-foetus]

taken from the album "weekend" (mü-nest, 2008)

Buy this lovely CD!

Tomorrow Morning - rist

[ Check out our popular Spotify playlist MUSIC FOR HOME: https://urlgeni.us/spotify/musicforhome ]

taken from the album "weekend" (mü-nest, 2008).

more infor: http://www.mu-nest.com/

主にドイツを拠点に活動している女性アコースティック・デュオ、Rist。ローズピアノ、ギター、グロッケンシュピール、パーカッション、ピースフルート、シンセサイザー等、たくさんの楽器の音が職人技のような繊細なビートプログラミングと重なりあう、気品に満ちたインスト・フォークトロニカ。マーラーやバッハ、スティーブ・ライヒ等のクラシックや、ジャズのBill Evansからの影響を感じつつも、日常のちょっとした喜びや幸せを大切に思う気持ちがじんわりと溢れてくるようなハーモニー。シンプルであることの美しさを追求し、穏やかな輝きを放つ魔法のようなサウンドです。dot tape dot、taunus,greg davisによるリミックスも収録し、マスタリングはRicks Ang(Aspidistrafly)、ジャケットデザインはflicaのeuseng setoが参加。(http://www.inpartmaint.com/shop/rist-weekend/)


The stress-free morning air, a breeze, the relaxing distant sounds and ambling clouds, a close friend, good coffee, a good book: the simplest, unassuming, undemanding pleasures of life distilled into the finest melodies that course through you like beautiful, ethereal tourists, lifting you in a sense of appreciation for all the little pleasures that are often took for granted. 

Thus is the magic of folktronica duo rist's debut album weekend, which was amazingly conceived when they were on a week-long vacation, recording one track per day. 

Like the relaxing tranquility of a well-deserved holiday, weekend showcases 10 tracks of ethereally entrancing music that presents the beautiful compositional capabilities of rist, merging heart-warming musical prowess with a delicate, captivating sensibility. 

An enthralling musical journey filled with layers of dreamy Rhodes and piano, tripping guitars, chromatic glockenspiel, enchanting beats and percussions, peace flute and bright synthesizers. Fusing various instrumental sounds together with expert subtle beat programming, weekend trails the beauty of simplicity, building minimal wondrous soundscapes, bringing a comforting serenity, a calming splendour that gently soothes and charms, drawing from the most subtle sublime touches of urban reality. 

weekend is a stature of musical excellence that does not enthrall with contrived ostentations, but rather the simple desires for a thoroughly soul-charming, tranquility filled music experience. 

Also on this album are the masterfully remixed works by some of today's most esteemed folktronica musicians and composers, namely Taunus from Germany, .tape. from Spain, as well as Greg Davis from the United States, with mastering by Ricks Ang of Kitchen and album jacket design by euseng seto, a.k.a flica. The gorgeous cover photo was taken by April Lee of Kitchen.

Weekend

Light - rist

Rain - rist

Slush - rist

For the first time, the 2 worlds of Will Wiesenfeld collided, and it happened in such a glorious way! Under his new forward-thinking beat music moniker, Baths (anticon label), Will produced a stunning remix for the track “Felix and the Mural”, which was taken from his debut album in mü-nest, "The Fabric", under his song-based electronica pop mélange moniker [Post-foetus]. In this gorgeous remix, Will magically transformed the heart-warming classical-infused electro-acoustic track into an astoundingly breathtaking dance floor anthem. With waves of stuttering beats, sublime sound sampling, dazzling synth-notes, ingeniously intertwining with the lush melodies from the original track, this shinning remix is unarguably a precious gem for your heartiest music collection! (mü-nest) 

Buy original CD here!

Felix and the Mural (Baths Remix)

Tracklist:
01. EVENFALL
02. OBSCURE DUSK
03. SINUSOIDAL PIRR
04. SOLEMN SOLACE
05. NIGHTFALL
06. INTERMISSION I : HÆTU
07. ETHEREAL COSMOS (ft. Okamotonoriaki, Kent Lee)
08. ANDROMEDIDS
09. COSMIC INFLATION (ft. Flica)
10. INTERMISSION II : ARÊTE
11. DAWNFALL

EVERY SINGLE DAY, OUR LIVES REVOLVES AROUND A SPIRAL OF SYSTEMATICAL LOOPS OF ACTIVITIES THAT SEEMS TO STATE OUR EXISTENCE IN THIS EARTH. THE MUNDANE DAYS AND ROUTINES THAT WE ENDURE AWAITS THE ARRIVAL OF THE WEEKENDS, WHERE WE SEEK COMFORT AND REST. THE CYCLE REPEATS TO FULFIL ONE GOAL AFTER ANOTHER, WHICH WILL LAST THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. WE CONSTANTLY SEEK FOR LOVE, FILLING THE EMPTINESS INSIDE WHENEVER IT COLLIDES WITH SOLITUDE. IN THIS DAY AND AGE, IT IS INEVITABLE THAT SOCIAL MEDIA AND MATERIALISM HAS OFTEN PLAYED A PART IN THIS FACADE TO SHELTER OURSELVES FROM THE ABYSS OF THE INSECURITIES SCREAMING FROM WITHIN. AMONG ALL OF THESE CATASTROPHIC SELF-SEARCHING EVENTS, YET IRONICALLY AT TIMES A BLESSING IN DISGUISE, WE FIND OURSELVES SEEKING FOR SOLACE

And like anyone of us, a Korean born musician, Dae Kim fnds his comfort in his frst LP, entitled Solace. In the midst of his soul-searching voyage, it has occurred to Dae that there is no other way to fnd comfort in life than fulflling one’s mandate, which in this case for him is by making music. Just like the mechanism of nature in this earth, every element took place to serve its core purpose. Hence, throughout this album, Dae was able to portray his perspective of this expedition through a soundscape of the living world. The three main themes entitled “Evenfall”, “Nightfall” and “Dawnfall” acts as a mould to the album with it’s looping melody lines and thematic structure.

Working for more than two years for his album, Dae Kim has took the approach of combining acoustic instruments from rhodes, piano, guitars, accordion to analogue synthesisers and turntables to create sounds of many colours. After spending countless nights in his bedroom drafting from one melody line to an ensemble track, he was fearless in trying new sounds and arrangements. With a mixture of electronica, ambient and acoustic, he was able to create songs that carries strong messages with a heartfelt innocence. As you could find the profound usage of these instruments throughout the album, it is hard to deny that Dae’s core inspirations such as Vangelis, Ennio Moricone and A winged victory of the Sullen (just to name a few), has played a part in shaping the overall soundscape of this production.

Playing a signifcant part in bringing this album to its fruition, is a strong line-up of musician collaborators. Bassist Kent Lee has showed his ability as a versatile musician through songs like “Obscure Dusk”, “Solemn Solace” and “Hætu” which carries the weight of the album’s theme between its heartwarming bass lines. He also did an additional composition for the seventh track, providing the drive and thrust for the song. Besides that, renowned ambient/electonica musician, Flica added an eccentric touch to the track “Cosmic Inﬂation” with his overdrived keys and alluring melody lines. It is as though in the midst of these indentation, there is peace and calmness. Last but not least on the featured artist is the Japanese born composer, Okamotonoriaki. Through his simple and benign repetition of vocal and harmonies, Okamotonoriaki was able to bring forth a sense of resolution through his work on the track “Ethereal Cosmos”. The album was mastered by Chihei Hatakeyama from Tokyo, who brought the entire album to it’s life and fruition.

“Solace” is Dae Kim’s journey of fnding his comfort amongst his vagrancy and it has been a rewarding one thus far. In this 52 reminiscing minutes of music, it stands for something more for the listeners. A time to reﬂect or a moment of catharsis, it is Dae Kim’s biggest hope for everyone who stumble upon this album to fnd their own solace amidst the pandemonium of our generation.

Solace

mnc018

Solace / Dae Kim (album sample mix)

[ Check out our popular Spotify playlist MUSIC FOR HOME: https://urlgeni.us/spotify/musicforhome ]

This one is from the North. And it is a special one.

Sergey Suokas, a.k.a. Slow, was born in Petrozavodsk, north of Russia. In solo he produces freaky minimal techno as Suokas, ear-friendly melodic electronica as Hot Arctic and atmospheric abstractionism as Slow. Soon after he started his own productions he hooked up with other likeminded people in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and many other cities, which eventually resulting a plenty of great musical connections, including live performances as DJ and musician in Moscos, Petrozavodsk, Norway and other places. Sergey has his works released in various labels around the world, notably on Resting Bell, Multi Vitamins, Metroline and Algorythmik.

This time, we are very proud to be able to invite Sergey to work his magic on one of the most popular tracks in mu-nest’s releases: okamotonoriaki’s “recorder”. In this remix, Sergey decided to keep the flowing structure, but expertly added in some signature polyphonic instruments to give it a truly Slow’s flavour. Sergey started off the remix with the original piano notes while instilling some wonderful elements of minimal techno. Then, slowly like a blossoming flower, the breath-taking drumming from the original track was introduced, but not without some skilful twists all over it. Coupled with Sergey’s self-crafted new guitar lines, melodic polyphonic sounds, and electronic effects, he magically created a whole new atmosphere in this remix, which breathes a new refreshing life into the original track. This is a 7:45 minutes of truly blissful moment. Sit back, open your ears, and enjoy. (mü-nest)

Recorder (Slowly Blossoming Remix by Slow)

[ Check out our popular Spotify playlist MUSIC FOR HOME: https://urlgeni.us/spotify/musicforhome ]

*As featured in Goldroom's Solé Fixtape Vol. 7*
(http://www.solebicycles.com/blogs/news/7257638-sole-fixtape-vol-7-by-goldroom)

:: ANNOUNCEMENT:: 

Due to popular demand, the 1,000 downloads quota has been reached within 4 days! If you didn't manage to download it, and want to do so, please head up to our bandcamp site: http://mu-nest.bandcamp.com/album/still-foggy-cosmonaut-grechko-version-hior-chronik. Meanwhile, keep the love coming in! 

Remix page:
http://www.mu-nest.com/special-info.php?d=remixes&f=stillfoggy_cg_remix

Cosmonaut Grechko's official website:
http://cosmonautgrechko.com

Victor Klyuchnikov, a.k.a. Cosmonaut Grechko, is a very talented young producer that hails from Russia, and we are indeed very lucky to have him as our guess remixer this time, producing a gorgeous remix on Hior Chronik’s beautiful track, “Still Foggy (with Natalie tba Beridze)”.

The 21 years old Victor is a passionate pianist by day, and cutting-edge electronic music producer & remixer by night. He has been producing many remixes that attracted thousands of followers in spaces like soundcloud, with most notable works include his splendid version of Yeah Yeah Yeah's hit “Maps” and a re-imagining of Tokyo electronic artist aus' popular track, “Headphone Girl”.

Originally a quiet, minimal and intimate track, Victor has decided to go for something more upbeat in this rework, while keeping the atmosphere of the original. “A sad song with a smile. This is what I want to make.” With this idea in mind, Victor carefully laid down some of his stylist signature beats onto the layers of beautiful synth pads. While he masterfully dripped in some of the most melancholy notes of electronic piano, bells, and a wash of noise into the mix, Victor slowly build up the intimate atmosphere with some clever pieces of Natalie’s hauntingly beautiful vocal, riding on the club-friendly rhythm, and elegant piano phrases. Beautiful, but yet, sad. 

This is undoubtedly a darn gorgeous remix, a wonderful treat for both indie-electronic fans and club-goers, a sad song that you will listen with a smile. 

Remember this name, Cosmonaut Grechko, a name that you will definitely hear a lot again in 2013. Meanwhile, we hope you will enjoy this remix, a wonderful teaser of what will be coming out from the young Victor Klyuchnikov in 2013.

Buy this track HERE!

Still Foggy (Cosmonaut Grechko Version) - Hior Chronik

http://www.mu-nest.com/release-info.php?f=mnc013

“The world is getting smaller.”

“For the past 2 years, a lot of things have happened to me. I travelled to Kuala Lumpur in 2011. I travelled to Beijing in 2012. I take a peek at the world through the internet. The world sometimes spots me back. This planet is getting smaller and smaller. Still, I'm only a tiny being. I sometimes feel sad. Since 2011, a lot seems to have changed in my island country. At least I now think of death more often than before. And I now feel that an ordinary life is a happy one. Day by day my emotions sway back and forth like this. I feel like I know what the world is like, but at the same time, I know nothing about the world. I live inside this huge universe, and I'm only a tiny little being. This album is a record of me from 2011 to 2012.” – okamotonoriaki.

2 years after his critically acclaimed debut album, “Telescope”, musician cum visual artist okamotonoriaki picked up where he left off, and back with his 2nd solo album - “A Little Planet”, a wonderfully melodic album that is almost diary-like, capturing the emotions about uncertainties, about happiness, and about exploring the new sides of life.

Beautiful piano notes, exquisite melody lines, layer after layer of masterfully crafted beat programming, those details that made up okamotonoriaki’s gorgeous debut album, continue to excel in this new album. Mellow field recordings, those tiny noises and delicate glitches that hover around, added further depth into his works, and the extensive use of the elements of beats further illustrates the movement of the emotions in the interaction with the daily life.

One of the highlights in this album, is the wonderful collaboration with Tokyo’s famed indie musician, Cokiyu. Her feathery whispering vocals gracefully instilled a new dimension into okamotonoriaki’s pop-ish electronica work. To add more diversity into the album, he also roped in his live performance acoustic guitarist, Takumi Nishinoya, to breeze some gentle fresh air into the electronic pieces, making his music even more accessible, and irresistible.

As an award-winning visual artist, okamotonoriaki produced 3 amazing music videos for the album, which are included in the DVD-R accompanying the album. The DVD-R also features another beautiful music video produced by Berlin visual artist, T.S. Wendelstein.

“A Little Planet” is skilfully mastered by Tokyo’s renowned musician and sound engineer, Chihei Hatakeyama, and features the wonderful design by Tokyo/Berlin-based design studio The Simple Society, with illustrations from Izumi Matsuhashi.

Welcome, to the little planet, of okamotonoriaki. 

one day / okamotonoriaki (Fulltrack Download)

During this unprecedented time, renowned Tokyo-based label “origami PRODUCTIONS” has taken the opportunity to launch their project “origami Home Sessions”. This project is all about working together with other musicians around the globe, supporting each other musically and helping each other overcome the big challenges that musicians and indie labels are currently facing.

Malaysia-based indie label mü-nest took this opportunity to join the project. Presenting this standout 2-track EP. Mastered carefully in Tokyo, by origami PRODUCTIONS expert mastering engineer who works in origami’s own dedicated “big turtle STUDIOS”.

This EP opens with the intricate delights of Shipyard from Akitsugu Fukushima - a superbly talented Japanese multi-instrumentalist that resides in Macao, and Iat U Hong - a very passionate violinist from Macao. At times complex but musically to the point, this beautiful track features the talents of mabanua – a Japanese multi-instrumentalist that has played and produced for some of the biggest stars in J-Pop scene, who is also a member of Japan’s popular band “Ovall”.

Moonstruck closes out the record with a more upbeat trip from Kuala-Lumpur-based DJ Wei, featuring Shingo Sekiguchi – a very skilful guitarist, composer and producer from Tokyo, by interweaving splendid guitar lines with soulful beats and vocal samples. DJ Wei is the side project of mü-nest label's head honcho, Wei.

mü-nest x origami Home Sessions presents: OUR HOME SESSIONS

Buy on BANDCAMP

Moonstruck (feat. Shingo Sekiguchi) - DJ Wei

mü-nest, where our daily music nests.
[ mü-nest（ミューネスト）が丁寧に作り上げたストレス解消プレイリスト。「聴く」をクリックして自宅で快適な音楽空間を作ろう。Check out our popular Spotify playlist 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗖 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘: https://urlgeni.us/spotify/musicforhome ]

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