kazumasa hashimoto "epitaph" 01: beginning 02: echomoo 03: -1' 04: SLD 05: eama gene 06: -2' 07: pulcinella 08: -3' 09: epitaph 10: -4' 11: ending contains 11 tracks. total time 48:19 Compose/Produce: Kazumasa Hashimoto Mastering: Masayo Takise (M's disk mastering) Sleeve Design: ATsystems Illustration: Atsushi Toyama "Epitaph" is the follow-up to Kazumasa Hashimoto's first album "Yupi" which was released to critical acclaim in Spring 2003. Using the piano as the centerpiece as well as wind and string instruments, Hashimoto blends his ensemble of acoustic instruments with sine waves, glitch noises, and electronics to create a lush and refreshing world of sound. While incorporating elements from minimalist composers as well as electroacoustic music and electronica, Hashimoto's music has a universal and timeless appeal to it. The rich tones of the acoustic instruments, the beautiful harmonies, the skillfull arrangements, and the multitude of musical elements blended into the background of the songs makes for a listening experience that is always invigorating. This real-life soundtrack is sure to pluck gently at the heartstring of all listeners. Kazumasa Hashimoto's Bio Composer/pianist born in Tokyo in '74. Having learned classical piano since childhood, Hashimoto started to compose in high school while also making music on a computer. After majoring in composition at a music university in Tokyo, he has actively been performing live, creating tracks for compilations, and producing other artists. In April 2003, Hashimoto released his debut album "Yupi" from the PLOP label which was a culmination of all he had learned and experienced musically. He created an imaginative and fantastic soundscape on this record utilizing piano, orchestra, electronics, and field recordings. This album was critically acclaimed by magazines such as DE:BUG in Germany as well as other publications and websites around the world. In the near future, he will be producing tracks for a AUDIO DREGS label compilation, and a compilation overseen by Ekkehard Ehlers for the STAUBGOLD label in Germany. As a pianist, he has played on the album of Japanese electronica artist World's End Girlfriend, and he will also be participating on the World Standard project by world music artist Souichiro Suzuki. On the live circuit, he has performed along with Sketch Show (Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi) at a "Code" event headed by Ryuichi Sakamoto in October 2003. In April 2004, he also supported the Tokyo show of the MORR MUSIC label tour in Japan. kazumasa hashimoto website