The future sound of Kyoto Sublime

"In Tokyo it' easier to make money, but in Kyoto, because there is less commercial influence, it's easier to make music purely for oneself," commented Sublime Records recording artist Rei Harakami in a recent telephone chat from his hometown. Perhaps that's why Harakami's sound is so unique he's cultivated it in relative obscurity, free from the commercial pressures and competitive strains of Tokyo's music scene.

For a taste of Harakami's sound and a preview of his upcoming performance as part of the May 18 Extremes event at Liquid Room, take a listen to his brand-new release, Red Curb. With hints of jazz-fusion and intricately woven breakbeats, the album pushes the envelope of prevailing notions of techno.

"I didn't set out with any total concept, but let the album evolve organically," Harakami explains, adding that the name Red Curb doesn't have any particular meaning. It is simply meant to be evocative and "provoke the question: 'What's that?'"

With its delicate, complex melodies and innovativeness, Red Curb runs counter to the trend towards sample-based electronica, a phenomenon the 30-year-old Harakami disparages. "Recently I don't sample at all," he comments. "I'm losing interest in it - there's just too much sampling music being made."

Instead, Harakami cites techno elder statesmen as influences, noting that he first became intrigued with the potential of music technology as a teenager listening to YMO. "I later began working as a commercial musician for television and commercials and was sometimes asked to make techno-oriented music. After being further turned on to the sounds of artists like the Orb and Aphex Twin, I began making some of my own music. In 1996, I sent a demo tape to Sublime, and had a call from the head of Sublime asking me to sign with them."

For Extremes, Harakami will be joined by the original Sublime find, Ken Ishii, in his alter-ego incarnation, Flare. Ishii has since gone on to international stardom and a major record deal with Sony, but he hasn't forgotten his roots and still makes regular appearances at Tokyo clubs. Also appearing will be breakbeat experimentalist DJ Kensei and Fumiya Tanaka (a.k.a. Karafuto), the Detroit techno-influenced DJ from Osaka.

Extremes: Liquid Room, 5/18, 10pm, JY3000 (adv), JY3500 (door). Tel: 3200-6831.