Susumu Yokota

The late, great Susumu Yokota made many terrific records, though few are quite as revered as 2004 set Symbol, which up until last year had only ever been available on CD. It got a limited vinyl pressing in Japan in late 2021 and is now available worldwide thanks to this vinyl pressing from Lo Recordings.

The album itself is simply stunning: a perfectly pitched fusion of neo-classical orchestration, melancholic piano motifs, ambient textures, sampled vocal refrains and beats that variously touch on instrumental hip-hop, IDM and soft-focus Latin grooves.

Atmospheric, evocative, melodic and impeccably produced, it remains Yokota's most musically expansive and cinematic release. It's the sort of set that everyone needs in their life, whether or not they're a confirmed admirer of the Japanese artist's other work.