In Another by Masahiro Takahashi

Review: Masahiro Takahashi - In Another

Based in Toronto since the early 2020s, Japanese keyboardist and composer Masahiro Takahashi has quickly become a cornerstone of the city’s experimental scene and a mainstay of the Telephone Explosion label. Building on the foundation of 2023’s Humid Sun, his latest release is another foray into a dreamlike, melodic, and hyper-sophisticated soundworld. Takahashi masterfully distills a broad spectrum of disparate influences—from the chamber pop of The Beach Boys and The High Llamas to experimental electronics, lounge-inflected jazz fusion, exotica, and contemporary classical—into a deeply personal aesthetic.

Backed by a flexible ensemble of label mates (many of whom appeared on his previous record), Takahashi presents a series of intricate compositions defined by delicate, shifting textures. The arrangements weave together synth pads, crystalline vibraphones, shimmering guitars, and velvety brass.

The album moves seamlessly from languid jazz ballads anchored by Joseph Shabason’s saxophone ("I’m Your Mirror," "Useless Tree") to atmospheric ambient pieces driven by sleek electronic grooves ("Dreamies"). On "Sky, Ocean and Creatures," angelic vocal arrangements provide a sublime backdrop for Dorothea Paas’s smooth delivery. Throughout the record, Takahashi integrates melodic and harmonic motifs that subtly evoke his East Asian roots, immersing the listener in a weightless, pillowy, and utterly captivating universe. © Stéphane Ollivier/Qobuz