Nanosweep 26
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Album Title: Nanosweep 26 |
| Record Label: Nanosounds, Supersweep |
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| Catalog No.: NS-026 |
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| Release Date: August 10, 2018 |
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| Purchase: Buy at Sweep Record |
Overview
NanoSweep is an ongoing series of original music that was initiated in 2004 by various members of NanoSounds and SuperSweep. It usually features members from each of these companies and occasionally a guest composer. This is the twenty-sixth original album and features compositions by Hiroshi Okubo, Shinji Hosoe, Ayako Saso, Fumihisa Tanaka, and Takahiro Eguchi. How does this album fare as a whole?
Body
The album opens with Hiroshi Okubo’s “Passengers,” a tech house tune that starts off as a slow burn, graduallyi adding more layers. Eventually, slightly robotic female vocals are added that serve as a bridge to a slightly more intense section that fades in vocals. It’s not his strongest contribution, but it does bring back some nostalgia from early Nanosweep entries. Shinji Hosoe’s “Imaginary activity” is a drum and bass tune that incorporates exotic vocals, industrial percussion, and features a fantastic melody as well. It, much like Okubo’s is a tune that feels very much like a classic Nanosweep entry. Also trending towards classic Nanosweep is Ayako Saso’s “Tokyo Deadline,” an electronic tune that blends Hindi vocal samples, female vocal samples, bass modulation, techno beats, and sharp synths, particularly in the melody. While it may not break any new ground, it’s a decidedly enjoyable tune.
Fumihisa Tanaka’s “IQ” is a techno tune that incorporates soft synths within a futuristic soundscape, offering a beautiful atmospheric sound. As it progresses, it takes on more of an EDM sound with its trap sections and increased tempo. It’s an interesting juxtaposition but does feel slightly fragmented and not as cohesive. Lastly, Takahiro Eguchi’s “Welcome mats” is a hard trance tune with an uplifting melody that is certainly in the vein of his early Nanosweep works. The melody is quite catchy and the overall tune is certainly better than some of his more experimental creations for the series.
Summary
Nanosweep 26 is certainly a call back to earlier days. While some of the tunes themselves are not as strong as some of the earlier entries in the series, it is still an album that fans of the series should find enjoyable. Pick it up if you are able.
Do you agree with the review and score? Let us know in the comments below!
3.5
Posted on October 9, 2018 by Don Kotowski. Last modified on October 9, 2018.
About the Author
Don Kotowski Currently residing in Philadelphia. I spend my days working in vaccine characterization and dedicate some of my spare time in the evening to the vast world of video game music, both reviewing soundtracks as well as maintaining relationships with composers overseas in Europe and in Japan.
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