About

The 1998 collaborative album brought together a trio of legends from the worlds of ambient and chillout. It’s a placid but playful collection that is like nothing else in their repertoires. Haruomi Hosono was, in his words, “adrift in the sea of ambient music” in the ’90s. The multi-instrumentalist and producer had grown restless with the level of celebrity foisted upon him as one third of synth-pop supergroup Yellow Magic Orchestra and was desperate to take his career in another direction after the band decided to go their separate ways. As Hosono descended deeper into his latest obsessions, it seemed inevitable that he would collide with like-minded icons Mixmaster Morris and Jonah Sharp.

The UK producers are legends in their own right. Morris made a name for himself as a prolific DJ, becoming a pioneer of ambient chillout, which gave ravers respite from the fast-paced environment of the main floor. Sharp, recording as Spacetime Continuum, occupied a similar zone—originally influenced by Chicago house and Detroit techno, his sound transformed as he retreated to the chill-out rooms and turned down the tempo. Both shared Hosono’s curiosity for music from all genres and corners of the globe, keeping everything from Balearic beats to atmospheric jazz in their toolkits. The English producers bring their otherworldly ability to bend time to the project.

But what makes Quiet Logic feel complete are the moments of contrast that Hosono provides on the tracks he co-produced. The walls close in on “Wakarimasen,” heightening the tension with an oppressive throb. Hosono speaks a mix of Japanese and English, coating his voice in a viscous echo as he utters abstract phrases. It would be the least ambient piece on the record if not for the closing track “Dr. Gauss / Yakan Hiko (Night Flight),” which releases the relaxing spell with its elastic, unsteady cadence. If Morris and Sharp have the power to effortlessly put you into a trance, Hosono knows best how to snap you out of it.

Quiet Logic was originally distributed on Hosono’s independent imprint Daisyworld, making few waves in or outside Japan where it was released. For Morris and Sharp, that low profile was an opportunity to toy with sounds outside their repertoire and work in ways neither of them were accustomed to. Hosono was looking for a change too; by the time the three had met at Quiet Lodge, he was already washing ashore from the ambient sea and had an eye to new frontiers. Quiet Logic captures a legendary trio at the top of their game, right before the moment they were set to scatter in different directions. — (via Pitchfork)

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Label: We Release Whatever The Fuck We Want Records
Format: 2x Vinyl, LP, Bioplastic, Limited Edition, Remastered
Country: Switzerland
Reissued: 2024 / Original Release: 1998
Genre: Electronic
Style: IDM, Ambient
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File under: Downtempo