Into the Darkness of the Night

"Into the Darkness of the Night" (2024) by Hiroshi Ebina.

The album's story unfolds through nine carefully composed tracks, each one taking you into the depths of the night. From the simple sounds of music boxes and wine glasses filled with water to cutting edge technology such as Eurorack synthesizers and algorithmic sequencers, each track uses at most two or three instruments to create delicate, crystalline, and hypnotic soundscapes. Starting with bright, high-pitched synthesizers evoking the evening when the city lights flicker, the album gradually transitions to mid-range tones that gently guide the listener into a dream world. This descent of sound mirrors the way we fall asleep every night; a mundane yet special experience that resembles a temporary death, where consciousness fades and dreams emerge from the depths of the subconscious.

The latest release from KITCHEN. LABEL. This is the album you want to listen to before you go to sleep. …As an aside, the Japanese title on the obi reads, "An invitation to 'Yami'." It's not "Yamiyo." It's pronounced "yaan" and has almost the same meaning as yamiyo, but the impression it gives is somehow gentler than bottomless darkness. (Ammel)