- Recommending Rick Wade's remix of Dubbyman's "Sunday Manifesto," Kazuki Yamaguchi (or, as his fans know him, Kez YM.) told the textura website, "When I make house tracks, I always try to make something like this." As a DJ, though, house isn't the only thing on the Tokyo-based producer's mind. His sets feature plenty of Theo Parrish, Pépé Bradock and Chez Damier, but they're also seasoned with Afrobeat, fusion funk, Blue Note jazz, Wackies dub and Donny Hathaway concert recordings. This same deep catalog sensibility finds Kez burrowing into funkier and more organic sounds than he did last year on his quite decent Sweetly Confused EP, and handing Yore a real gem of a record.
"Pepe," "City Soul Vibrations" and "Washing My Soul" pay their bills by pairing the commanding energy of crisp, live-sounding drums with the soothing allure of caramelized Rhodes chords. Much of City Soul sounds, yes, like Yamaguchi's trying to make something like a Rick Wade track. This isn't mere formula, though, and it's a lot hotter than imitation (the Yore logo should be proof enough of that). With his exuberant mix of supercharged drum breaks, uptown brass, guitar sass, sweet soul coos, lounge vibraphone, handclaps and tambourine, Kez transforms himself into a ridiculously tight funk band holding court at their favorite club.
The inclusion of closer "Caravan" is a bit puzzling, though. Where the previous three tracks fit together so snugly that they sound more like variations on a theme than distinct creations, the slinky-synth funk of "Caravan" has an altogether different vibe. No bother, though. Even if it feels a little tacked-on, it stands up impeccably well on its own, and it's certainly no detriment to the practically timeless dance tracks that precede it.
Tracklist I1 Pepe
I2 City Soul Vibrations
II1 Washing My Heart
II2 Caravan