Released on the cusp of summer, Seasons is an EP to carry one through the year. Ai Yamamoto, who so graciously opened her home to listeners on Pan De Sonic – Iso, now turns her attention to the passing of the seasons and the great outdoors. Each track is a succinct exploration of its season, packed with field recordings and enhanced by enchanting music.
The artist begins with the sound of spring storms, a howling wind crossing the street in sheets as baby birds cry for their food and frogs enjoy the extra water. But soon there are footsteps; one can easily imagine a child in glossy rubber boots as she stamps happily in the puddles. Yamamoto contributes a soft electronic framework, as balanced by Ayako Fujii on Japanese flute. This is a track of emergence, the rain nourishing the cherry blossoms, the bees providing pollination.
And then it is summer ~ and what sound conjures summer better than that of a lawnmower? Now the bees are out in full force, the weather is hot and steamy, and Dan West, who collaborated with Yamamoto on last year’s Microdoses, decorates the lawn with synth. Once the lawn is mowed, all is at peace. The crickets replace the bees, and relaxation time begins! The neighborhood watches the fireworks as children play. West kicks into a dance beat, bringing a wave of pure sonic joy, topped off by a round of icy drinks.
All too soon, it is over as autumn begins. And yet with Yamamoto there is no sense of withdrawal, no bittersweet sighs. The composer seems to love all seasons, and shares her appreciation through sound. Lonely crickets chirp into the wind as Fuji returns, contributing a feeling of peace. A series of light keys joins the evening chorus, blending in, as soothing as a lullaby. Flocks of geese migrate overhead, commuting to their winter homes.
The storms return in winter, but there is also a sense of play, conveyed by the sounds of skiing and a welcoming fire. The crackle of sleet is virtually indistinguishable from the crackle of flame, and one realizes that the ice has been transferred from the glass to the sky: a little winter in summer, a little summer in winter. In this “sonic diary,” Yamamoto invites listeners to travel through the year, not dreading any season, but embracing each as it comes and goes and returns. (Richard Allen)
a closer listen 