Continuation by Asta Hiroki

After much anticipation Asta Hiroki presents ‘Continuation’ his second full length solo album via Folded Music. The long awaited follow up to the critically acclaimed debut ‘Entropy’ (FIP Selection, Huey Morgan Album of The Week) is also his second album release this year after a collaboration project ‘Anamnesis’ with Tristan de Liege in March. 'Continuation' has been awarded FIP Selection.

'Continuation' is not just a superficial title, it is a theme and concept that runs deep throughout the project's facets.

Track titles that allude to an ever-expanding universe explore the vastness and incomprehensible scale of the biggest continuation in existence. They sit side by side with micro-level personal feelings relating to the theme that are explored on smaller cycles of continuing through hardship (‘Transition’, ‘Someday I'll Be There’) and using hope and/or acceptance as a tool to help navigate (‘Understanding’, ‘It's Gonna Be Alright’). Even the fantastic cover artwork (by Gianluca Cardinale) reinforces the concept expertly with its collaged imagery of a repeating, seemingly infinite waterfall - itself representing an entity of constant perpetuation.

There is a certain degree of literal irony in the title also due to the fact that some of the tracks on this album were initiated before or are intrinsically interlinked with those on 'Entropy'. The title track for example started life as the part 1 to the final track on that record 'These Hands pt. 2' before evolving into its final form, therefore there is a literal continuation of an initial musical idea that acts as a conduit between the two albums in addition to the overarching metaphors and narrative throughout the tracks.

Musically it’s a rich banquet of ideas from the start, as the record explodes to life with the lively jazz and breaks fusion of ‘Rebirth’ with Klaverson musing on matters of cycles and time over a rich musical tapestry of crunchy drums, double bass, emotive piano and sound design.

There’s a pleasant balance between instrumental tracks and vocals with okcandice lending their voice to the primal yet delicate arrangement of ‘Light Rain’ also on Side A where deep percussive hits and off kilter beats are juxtaposed against the nuance and tender vocal and harp lines. Meanwhile the album traverses modern instrumental jazz (Understanding), alternative electronica (Flourish) and left field beat scene styles (Transition (edit)).

Side B flexes across further musical territories with ‘Fall Into The Sun’ showcasing a wonderful case of psychedelic jazzy soul with Emma Lucia’s haunting vocal and Ren Nelson’s memorable bass line reverberating in the mind long after the first listen. Then we are taken on an mainly instrumental journey through spiritual jazz and electronica on the astronomically inspired ‘M87’, energetic afrobeat breaks and bittersweet vocal snaps of ‘Some Day I’ll Be There’ before the affecting nostalgia of the album title track and then finally the film soundtrack-like closer ‘It's Gonna Be Alright’ where the musicians really show a level of freeness and liberty in their playing that lifts the listener up and takes them on a journey before parachuting them back to reality.

The artist explains further in his own words:

“This record is the culmination of much more than just the three years since the first album. I wanted to expand my musical universe, to pack more melody and harmony, explore further, to create more bridges between jazz, electronic and beat music in a human way. To continue the work started on 'Entropy' and run with it in every direction I could imagine interesting ideas for.

Many people who heard the debut record described it as a 'grower' and I think I subconsciously endeavoured to make something more immediate and melodic this time. I was very attentive to detail on this record and focused on what I wanted it to sound and look like.”

Indeed there is a lot of humanity more live instrument playing including his own piano, synth, bass and guitar work, and a wider talent pool than before featuring regular drums and percussion collaborator Robbie Hookins, the rhythm section from FLOCKS, Teis Ortved on saxophone, guest vocalists Klaverson, okcandice, Emma Lucia, and some inspired bass from Ren Nelson.

It's been a journey to create this record, with recording sessions held between the UK, Cyprus, France, Germany, Denmark, Japan, and the US. But the level of artistry, thought and details paid to this project will surely prove it to have been worth the wait.

Since his debut release in 2017 Asta Hiroki has long been considered a notable figure across multiple independent music scenes and turned heads at key tastemakers and outlets across the industry. Seeing regular support as a staple of BBC6Music, FIP, BBC, JazzFM, and KCRW. Winning further plaudits from national paper The Guardian for his composition work and XLR8R, Dummy Mag, CLASH, Magnetic Mag Exclaim! on the music media side. Not to mention the multitude of editorial placements on Spotify and AppleMusic across Jazztronica, All New Jazz, Fresh Finds, Butter, and more.

Paris based music producer and visual artist.

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