Ex Confusion – Embrace

Making his debut on the same burgeoning California-based n5MD label which recently snapped up fellow Fluid Radio regular Mark Harris, Ex Confusion’s Atshuhito Omori delivers his second full-length work, Embrace. Located in Japan, Ex Confusion has seen a series of releases in recent years, perhaps most notably the Heat Death Records release, Too Late, They Are Already Gone and an appearance on the much lauded Keith Kenniff-curated ‘For Nihon’ compilation.

Opening piece Grass Harp begins slowly and sets the pace for the remainder of the roughly 45 minute long album. Working with guitar to create softly swelling ambience, Omori’s careful fretwork produces an uplifting and often quite moving tone which will go deep into one’s consciousness in order to stir long forgotten half-memories unique to each listener, but invariably steeped in nostalgia.

Following number If There Is Love departs from the slow guitar swells to deliver a piano-led track which centres around a key repeating refrain – its uncomplicated nature aiding an emotional connection with the music once again Title track Embrace is next and adds a small hint of grit to lend the piece a wonderful texture, reminiscent perhaps of Chihei Hatakeyama or Hakobune and no less beautiful than the work of these peers. Embrace continues forward without abating in quality and in all it’s an impressive display from the self-taught musician who seems to have increased in confidence and maturity since his already very good previous releases.

In a genre which is just about packed to bursting point with new material and artists, it can be difficult to separate the wheat from the chaff but Ex Confusion’s Embrace transcends most similar music and oozes quality, taste and restraint.

Embrace is available now from n5MD in CD and digital download editions.

- Adam Williams for Fluid Radio

www.n5md.com