Tokyo-based electronic artist and renowned record collector Compuma returns with his sophomore album, a meditative journey through the landscapes of memory and place. Inspired by the scenery of Lake Ezu in Kumamoto and contemplative walks across Japan, this seven-track collection represents a profound evolution of his environmental electronic aesthetic. Compuma has established himself as one of Japan's most respected record buyers and DJs, with an encyclopedic knowledge of obscure and left-field music spanning genres and continents. His unique ability to sculpt entirely new narratives from existing fragments caught the attention of Berlin Atonal directors in 2017, leading to his festival debut. Now, with horizons, he channels decades of musical exploration into his most personal statement yet.
The album expands upon his 2023 digital-only horizons EP, transforming five core compositions into a complete sonic pilgrimage. "horizons 1" opens with undulating electronic textures that mirror a leisurely walk across clear expanses of sky and lake, featuring vocoder voices that suggest distant human activity before shifting into minimalistic rhythmic introspection. "horizons 2" evolves with exquisite salinity, while "horizons 3" pays homage to early electronic music pioneers. "horizons 4" presents a more stoic minimal electro-dubwise piece, immersed in the meditative act of walking itself. The journey concludes with "horizons 5," a beatless ambient composition enhanced by field recordings that captures the atmosphere of wandering waterfront contemplation.
Interspersed between these core pieces, "horizons interlude" evokes the surface of a gently bobbing lake, while reworked versions of "view 2" from his previous album a view appear as both a self-remix and an electro interpretation, creating shimmering reflections like light on water.
The work recalls Kraftwerk's autobahn in its depiction of landscape through minimal electronic sounds, yet Compuma's vision incorporates deeper introspective elements that reveal various emotional and psychological views throughout the album. This represents his thoughtful response to the recent environmental music revival and ambient generalization he has long championed as both DJ and curator. Co-produced by hacchi (collaborator with Deavid Soul and Urban Volcano Sound) and mastered by Nakamura Soichiro of Peace Music (known for work with Shintaro Sakamoto), the album benefits from pristine sonic treatment. Package artwork by designer Sei Suzuki completes this carefully considered artistic statement.
