Makoto – Believe in my soul

Show

Full Frequency,

Published

Wednesday 10th October

Label: Good Looking/Inertia

Four years since the release of his debut artist album, Human Elements, Makoto returns with 11 tracks of drum ‘n’ bass that won’t disappoint his fans but also show that he’s progressed in the intervening years.

There are still the trademark smooth production values, the soulful influences and the dreamy vocals. But what he’s added is a little toughness and some extra instrumentality, as shown on the opening track Spangle, with its meeting of driving beats, strutting bass line and Nina Simone vocal sample, and the jazz band sounds and floating vocal of one of the album highlights Freedom Suite.

Perhaps the Japanese producer’s collaborators have influenced his sound a little and he includes his brother Akira, DJ Inza, XRS, and Marky co-productions on this album.

Either way, Makoto manages not be limited to a specific sound through the album… there’s the slightly moodier Waiting and the dreamy album closer Open Your Eyes. A range of emotions are captured within the d ‘n’ b format here, and it will be a celebrated treat for anyone into the smoother end of the genre but will also find fans in lovers of soulful dance music of all styles.