Still Water [7"]

Takuro Okada - Still Water [7"]

The album "Konoma" received high praise from media and listeners both in Japan and abroad, becoming a work that embodies Takuro Okada's ongoing musical exploration. "Still Water," his first physical release since "Konoma," was created for Record Day 2026 Day 1. This release features music created for the campaign for "MT2," a new footwear model developed by TOKYO DESIGN STUDIO New Balance. Updating the craftsmanship New Balance has cultivated over its 120-year history for contemporary lifestyles, the model features a barefoot-like lightness, high breathability, and an enveloping fit, and was designed to move seamlessly between everyday life and the outdoors. Inspired by the product, Okada composed the music specifically for the campaign. Side A, "Still Water," features Shoei Ikeda on flute. Incorporating elements of folk and Afro music, the track is built around an extremely minimal ensemble stripped down to only the most essential sounds. The performance, recorded through improvisation and captured on analog tape, creates subtle fluctuations and generous open space reminiscent of the surface of still water. Side B, "Dohman Sehman," takes the mood of vintage funk as its starting point while incorporating a melodic sensibility and folkloric resonance reminiscent of Japanese minyou and kayoukyoku. The track features a group of up-and-coming musicians including Kei Matsumaru on alto sax, Mei Katsumaru on tenor sax, Yuma Koda on Wurlitzer and Farfisa, Yuka Konishi on bass, and Hayate Ebihara on drums. Its powerful groove is driven by a spacious mix evocative of dub techniques and a weighty rhythm section. With the serene open space of "Still Water" and the powerful groove of "Dohman Sehman," these two contrasting tracks reveal the expanding scope of Takuro Okada's creativity since "Konoma." LISTEN: https://open.spotify.com/album/5tkzME9xg15CNkLXXhuUIs Side A 01. Still Water Written by Takuro Okada, Shoei Ikeda Side B 01. Dohman Sehman Written by Takuro Okada