Before Through The Looking Glass, there was Ki-Motion. Two years before Midori Takada recorded her now famous 1983 solo album, the Japanese percussionist had already planted the seeds for her unique brand of ambient percussion fusion with Mkwaju Ensemble. On their debut album from 1981, Takada leads the ensemble through a suite of varied, transcendental sounds, all rooted in the concept that "rhythms represents the fabric of life." Here Takada combines her brilliant marimba, vibraphone, and bamboo percussion playing, with synthesizer by Shuichi Chino, and additional drums and percussion by Shuichi Murakami and Yoji Sadanari, resulting in a timeless and otherworldly vibe. From the synthesizer-backed poly-rhythms of "Wood Dance," to the ghostly atmosphere of "Maximum a,"  the playful and eclectic title track "Ki-Motion," or the gorgeous ambient drone "Hot Air,"  Ki-Motion perfectly captures the spirit of the golden age of Japanese ambient music. Original pressings are exceedingly rare and prohibitively expensive (upwards of $400), so this timely WRWTFWWR reissue is more than welcome. Highly Recommended.

• 1st ever reissue, originally released in 1981
• 350g old Stoughton tip-on sleeve
• vinyl cut at Emil Berliner Studios
• music label: We Release Whatever The Fuck We Want Records 2018

reviewed by Hana Ni Mizu 08/2018