Multi-instrumentalist and composer Sen Morimoto releases his self-titled second album from Sooper Records on October 23rd.
This album is much anticipated and comes on the back of much fanfare from the much touted Morimoto, who remains much of an enigma on this side of the Atlantic.
Living in Chicago, Morimoto is a producer, rapper and while not necessarily a jack of all he is definitely a master of collaboration using label mates and friends from the Chicago indie label scene such as Lala Lala, NNAMDI, KAINA, Qari and Japanese electronic artist AAAMYYY.
Morimoto has been a busy person since releasing his debut album in 2018 and touring the world, as well as being a member of Chicago jazz collective, Resavoir and being musical producer of Kaina's breakout Next To The Sun and becoming part owner of Sooper Record Label, his own label on which this record is released.
Morimoto uses a wide array of musical genres and influences across this sumptuous and kaleidoscopic release evidenced in the single Woof which has a 60s jingle jangle guitar riff which harks back to Beatles cast offs, his voice is velvety over the production meaning this is not only a pleasing artist to listen to but he is also accessible due to his variety.
Perhaps the man himself can explain the concept of the album better: “Thematically, the album explores self-examination–the way reality breaks the distortion of subjective experience. Focusing on minutia, the album highlights the ways that our learned habits, such as shameful desires and righteous ideals, are inherited by everyday motions of modern American life. The grotesque and ignored emerging in dreams, begin to inform a cruel reality. Touring through a world on a wire, my dreams, in harrowing vibrant color, began to cross the threshold into my waking life. My self-titled album comes as a statement from somewhere in between those two worlds.”
Morimoto has shot for the moon with this album, an album of ambition married with unlimited potential has become one of this year's best albums. An album that comes along once in a while that becomes one of constant repeat plays in coffee houses and bars (when we can frequent them), this is helped by being not merely one of Morimoto's ability but in this day and age of a world becoming smaller an album of collaboration - he is cleverly using his platform as the opportunity to give that same platform to artists to gain access to the mainstream such as those mentioned before. Their parts are not throwaways but vital calling cards for the song and themselves.
At times hypnotic, at times intellectual at times flat out fun and funky; there will be something for everyone on this album ranging from cool chillout (The Box), electronic harmony (Goosebumps), chic rap (Daytime But Darker) to far out RnB (Jupiter) with a spaced out twist.
Sen Morimoto has given the world an album about the world and all the people in it, from all corners and how their voices can become one when given a chance to be heard.
Sen Morimoto is out from Sooper Records on October 23rd.
My thanks to One Beat PR for the review opportunity.
