Sunao Inami- Used Up and Empty

Artist: Sunao Inami
CD Title: Used Up And Empty
Label: Electr-Ohm
Reviewer: Matthew Johnson
Date: 11-16-06

Japanese experimental techno programmer Sunao Inami's latest release is an album of live improvisations, but it flows so perfectly it feels almost like a concept album. Beginning with the dark ambient and glitch-infused "Used Up," the album then progresses through various untitled phases of distorted noise, glitch, ambient, and electro before closing out with the tribal house beats of "And Empty." Despite the seamless transitions, Inao manages to explore a number of different genres. The first half of the set tends more towards contemplative experimentalism; there are several dark ambient soundscapes, for example, as well as lots of rhythmic interactions far too complex for dancing. One section is composed entirely of thickly processed conversation. Around the halfway point, Inami starts to move things in a more club-oriented direction, starting off with some eclectic breakbeats before moving in a more tribal feel that recalls Eric Van Wonterghem's Monolith project, with hints of world music and techno interlaced with glitches, industrial sounds, and distortion. It's dark enough to dissuade candy ravers without being excessively spooky, and fans of weird techno artists like Aphex Twin as well as such European EBM and rhythmic noise acts as Sonar and Grandchaos should especially enjoy this one.

Visit www.cavestudio.com for more information about Sunao Inami.