Two new remixes take Mark Barrott further away from the “nu Balearic” beach that some would have him stranded on, toward more “serious” music. The tracks, lifted from his score for the feature length documentary, Johatsu, are reimagined as short journeys into neo / post-classical territory. 

Kamikakushi (神隠し) (which translates as “spirited away”) consists of serene, stretched, notes. Drones raised from ringing like that of a gently struck, stroked, Tibetan singing bowl. Slow, stately, ceremonial electronica. The Washington State-raised composer, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, closely associated with labels like Western Vinyl, RVNG Intl., and Ghostly International, very subtly riffs on Mark’s sustained tones and textures. Introducing more movement, ripples, and pastoral motifs. 

Kyoto (京都) is a Synclavier-esque symphony of clipped computerised kalimba patterns and Fairlight-like choir. Tokyo-based artist, Lycoriscoris (real name, Yunosuke Senoo), retains those tumbling patterns, and the piece’s main melody, but pushes them in a more “organic” direction. Now coming on like a mini- Music For 18 Musicians (it’s 5, not 60, minutes long). The playful percussion, Steve Reich-like subjected to shifting phase effects. Fragile and elegant, evolving, emotive, and uplifting, cascading keys providing an electric counterpoint. 

The remixes of Mark Barrott’s Johatsu  are out now on Reflections.