DJ Alex Corton – Vinyl Reviews

Good Looking Records

Makoto – Enterprise / Sweet Changes

1999

We turn now to a key release in the repertoire of Good Looking Records, with the first release by an artist based outside Europe. This not only signified the expansion of the music across the globe, but also nudged Shimizu Makoto into the limelight in style. This was his follow up release, to his first one on Nexus, courtesy of Tayla’s Good Looking side project. ‘Wave’ & ‘Jupiter’s Field’ pulled the most incredible music toward us and it was therefore a forgone conclusion that Makoto would end up with music on the main label. Not only that, this guy could play a mean guitar. We reviewed a couple of his tracks of his, on the Earth series a while back (Vol 4 & 7), on a more down tempo tip, which showcased another side of his overall musical creativity. 

    Makoto is probably one of the biggest drum and bass artists to emerge from the East. The Japanese musician had many influences, which included jazz and funk from the 70s and  the mid 90s sounds coming from the underground music scene in the UK. His work at this time is some of the most inspiring music on the label. Let’s enter the spiritual essence of Makoto and hear the blended influences of the cosmic mystical sounds and the divine spices of the East. 

    ‘Enterprise’ casts out the fluctuating energy pulses with the cannon of mass momentum, as the shell of the atmospheric cracks its first hairline fracture within the interior force field. The intro leads us toward a cumulonimbus of beats which fire out a soaring wall of sound. You’d expect this monster bassline to hammer home the rest, but you have here this bass which is a plucked bass that seems to tempt the listener like the bouncers of heaven. You almost feel like it is about to explode but just take a listen. You are in the threshold and eye of this storm and it feels fucking fantastic. Just prior to the breakdown we have that rewound break and then the magic of Makoto takes over with those poetic key changes within the pads and chimes. The roaring overhead activity cuts across the sky above you and the rolling amen beats lay a vapor trail through your being. Makoto had a flair for the music in a big way, and the world was opening up for the history and influences from so many different corners of the globe, that the drum and bass scene was being spun on its head due to the inventive and fresh ideas carried with it. 

   On Side AA, ‘Sweet Changes’ drops a funkier intro and crams more of Makoto’s background of funk and soul passions into the lime light. This was really one of the first tastes of how incredibly talented his production with bass guitars could be. Having his musical pitch changes, key changes and the underlying (well, overlying too), bass he churned out some of the funkiest and groove laden music around. It made you get up, bust the beads of sweat and feel like the world was on your side for a few minutes. Makoto really smashed the scene, and this label with his work. A true legend of the scene and as mentioned, a very defining artist on Good Looking. 

  Makoto remains an active artist out there today, and holds many GLR releases to his name, both on single 12”, EP, and albums, along with a healthy spectrum of styles. We have a lot more to hear and review from him. Big big shout to Makoto,