Up until now, for me Kawasaki was all about the racing green of Mick Grant and his 3-cylinders. Pantone Music in their turn hit back with the 4 track EP racer with DJ Kawasaki and 3 different female vocalists.

DJ Kawasaki’s track record is quite impressive starting out in 2005 with a bossa-house track ‘Blazin’ (released on King Street Sounds, home to Kerri Chandler, Dennis Ferrer, Mike Delgado and Yukihiro Fukutomi to name a few) and was picked to remix the classic ‘Maiden Voyage’ for Blue Note in Japan (a project that also involved Jazztronik, Sunaga T Experience, Robert Glasper and Kyoto Jazz Massive) last year.

Gav Smith has found a gem here as via the previously released ‘Beautiful’ on Osaka’s Especial Records. And it’s not just the vocal’s of “Tokyo starlet” Karin, that are beautiful, it’s got that jazzier piano that makes it “our” kinda house.

Talking of which, apart from the Sleep Walker re-work, there a distinct lack of jap-house on Gilles Peterson’s excellent 3 disc In The House compilation that came out last month on Defected. GP could have picked all the tracks on this EP, certainly, the opener ‘Save Your Love’ wouldn’t be out of place as it features Angela Johnson, the vocalist of Defected’s own Reel People.

Not to be outdone, we get both the vocal (with newcomer Lena Fuji) and instrumental versions of ‘Bright Like Light’; confusingly called ‘Beautiful’ on You Tube below.

Apparently Lena has a modelling career but if you’ve got issues with her lack off clothing, there’s no such problem with the 12” as it’s got exclusive instrumental version with those lush strings and Fender Rhodes.

Mr. Peterson is currently upset about the forthcoming closing of his favourite club in the world (Yellow, Japan) so lets hope this EP cheers him up a bit. Certainly put me a happy house mood, like riding your motorbike without a helmet (which, of course, is illegal and not recommended by the management at Fly Global Music).

Reviewed: DJ Kawasaki — The Tokyo Crossover EP (Pantone Music) Cat. No. pan12010 Release date: 24th March 2008
Tracklisting:
1 Save Your Love (7:30) featuring Angela Johnson
2 Beautiful (7:42) featuring Karin
3 Bright Like Light (7:32) featuring Lena Fuji
4 Bright Like Light (Instrumental) (7:27)

Links:
www.last.fm/music/DJ+Kawasaki
www.pantonemusic.com
www.myspace.com/angelajohnson1
www.especial-records.com
www.kingstreetsounds.com
www.myspace.com/kingstreetsounds
www.defected.com
Tokyo’s Legendary Club is closing June 2008
Gilles Peterson in Japan April 2008 (3 Apr 2008 — Liquid Rrooms, Tokyo : 5 Apr 2008 — Air, Tokyo : 12 Apr 2008 — Fukui) www.myspace.com/gillespeterson
1975 Kawasaki 500 rider Mick Grant “This three cylinder 500cc machine was developed for Mick Grant to ride at the 1975 TT, which he duly won. Up until this time Kawasaki’s race effort had been concentrated on the 750 cc machines that were used extensively in the USA and in the Formula 750 Championship. Kindly loaned by the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu.”
www.myspace.com/kyotojazzmassive