Released
1997
Label
Invisible
Reviewed by
Michael C. Lund
Visit
Last Edit/Update
09 February, 1998
Riou
POPS
Track Listing
1. C1 (Reverse)
2. Book Shop
3. Stock
4. E.L.E.
5. Return 1
6. Vegetable Shop
7. Visual Arts
8. C2
9. Return 2
10. Play With Sampler
Riou is an
electro-trance-dance solo-project conceived and engineered by Osaka-based Tomita Riou.
With Pops, Invisible Records has made the latest offering from
this innovative Japanese musician available domestically, and it is their plan to
re-release the entire backcatalogue of Riou for American audiences in the
near future.
Pops is perhaps best
described as variations on a theme. The length of the individual pieces on the CD
fluctuate greatly in length (from 30 seconds to more than 10 minutes). Almost without
exception, however, the tracks are based around a deep bass beat that throbs throughout
the wordless pieces. Over these beats, Riou slowly introduces other
sounds, most of which are also of a percussive nature. The strength of the pieces is that
none of these skippings, clackings, clappings, clankings, whippings, lashings, tappings
and hammerings are conventional or definable. Tomita Riou's sound-world is
decidedly his very own, apart from a few recognizable elements everything is invented or
discovered by Riou himself.
Aside from the heavy
reliance on percussions, a number of the tracks feature loops of single, vibrating tones
or heaving, droning sounds in the background. These presences give the music a sense of
flow, upon which the many rhythms and percussions sail along.
The CD as a whole has a
strong unity to it, and whereas the individual pieces are well suited for the dance-floor,
the program in its entirety is a wonderful soundtrack for relaxation. The repetitive,
minimal qualities of Riou's sound has a trance-inducing effect.
Eventually the listener will be lead down the back alleys of his/her mind, if Pops
is indulged in at full length.
Copyright Last Sigh
