Original productions

The talented French-Japanese trio, Tokyo Black Star a.k.a Alex From Tokyo, Isao Kumano and Kenichi Takagi, take us on a special trip with this vocal re-interpretation of Arno E. Matthieu's beautiful piece "LIVADAKI" on his Contemplation V EP (released on Compost Records in April 2022), using the voice of Japanese singer Yurai like a proper instrument alongside the original bass pattern and Balearic synth, following some shining bells that drive us all along this intense cosmic journey.

No more words needed, just follow the vibe and let your mind imagine the landscape…

Arno E. Matthieu - Livadaki [Tokyo Black Star Chillax Remix] (Compost Records)

Tokyo Black Star - Intermission

Tokyo Black Star - AES-S3

-Tokyo Black Star "X" featured on the Y-3 Autumn/Winter 2013-14 Fashion Show in NYC: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tlJtskETG8


Tokyo Black Star - X (for Y-3 10th anniversary music compilation project)

In late 2016, Thomas Gandey and Danny McLewin — known from the popular disco-influenced electronic music collective Psychemagik — emerged from their studio in London, England, claiming to have produced an extended musical arrangement, both entitled, and containing the sounds of, shakuhachi. Furthermore, they insisted, for the purposes of this production, and a further album of related arrangements to be released subsequently in conjunction with the successful German record label Kompakt, they should be referred to henceforth as Ghost Vision.

Shortly thereafter, the audio recordings described by Gandey and McLewin came into the possession of noted Los Angeles degenerate, DJ and nymphomaniac* (citation needed) Dirty Dave, who was quick to relay the hallucinatory qualities of the duo’s productions to fellow DJ and trusted hallucinogenic expert Paramida, of esteemed German musical imprint Love On The Rocks.

Paramida, recognising the innate quality of the sounds presented to her, decided that such recordings warranted immediate release through her audio distribution channel, and not without remixes. Quite without thinking of the Eastern origins of the instrument which had given the recording certain sonic distinguishments, and of course, its title, she enlisted the help of two musicians named Alex — one from Tokyo, and one from Kyoto.

Both Alex From Tokyo — the acclaimed producer of electronic sounds known for his prior releases on popular German label Innervisions — and his counterpart, Alex from Kyoto, better known as Al Kassian, rising Tamagotchi on Paramida’s Love On The Rocks imprint and his own label, Planet Sundae — turned in striking reinterpretations of Gandey and McLewin’s composition. It was reported that upon their arrival and first listening at Love On The Rocks headquarters, wild dancing broke out almost immediately and did not stop for 36 hours.

The resulting package of stereo recordings was finally released for public broadcast and manipulation by disc jockeys in early 2018, to much rejoicing, from England to LA, throughout Europe and Japan. It marked the first release for the label in their fourth year of operation, during which there is much more to come.

信じない者には魔法なんて見つからない。

LOTR017 A2. Ghost Vision - Shakuhachi (Tokyo Black Star Atlantis Remix)

Alex lives with an eye (and two ears) toward spreading the joy and freeing power of music. His work spans three continents and more than three decades, encompassing DJing (Alex from Tokyo), producing music (Tokyo Black Star), coordinating music projects between Japan and the world (e.g., F Communications), running a pro-audio company (PHONON), hosting radio shows (currently ta-bi-bi-to), managing a record label (world famous), and — of course — designing music and sound.

Alex has been making waves in the world of music and sound design since the late 1990s in Tokyo. A specialist in music styling and curation, cultural consultancy and translation, and connecting the dots, he has a client experience that stretches across fashion, art, culture, and lifestyle (see a sample portfolio of work). 

Raised in Tokyo, a longtime resident of NYC, and now based in his birthplace of Paris, Alex is truly cosmopolitan. He founded omotesound to curate, create, and collaborate with creative minds and passionate hearts across the world.

Arno E. Matthieu - Livadaki [Tokyo Black Star Chillax Remix] (Compost Records)

omotesound by alex prat