Parisian label, InFine, have put together a Collection of music produced by Kaito, the ambient alias of techno veteran Hiroshi Watanabe (he’s been at it 29 years). The album features remasters and re-edits of nine numbers which were originally released between 2020 and 2022 on Watanabe’s Cosmic Signatures imprint. They are all ethereal, electronic scores for quiet moments of introspective contemplation. Many woven from a multilayered vapour of serene sustained notes and drones. Emotive and elegant synthetic strings and analogue angelic harmonies that rise to soaring euphoric peaks. Symphonic swells that convey a bitter sweet bliss. Romantic, and simultaneously melancholy and celebratory. Summer Mood, for instance, is a peaceful piano-led piece, that induces the poignant pleasurable pain of nostalgia. Where you might find yourself momentarily missing memorable yesterdays but grateful for having places and people to remember all the same.

Birds Of Passage is derived from delicate textures, tailored from tiny treated keys. Summer Sketch is perhaps a slight nod to Miles Davis’ Sketches Of Spain. Its horns adding human warmth. However, the beat-driven tracks are the most engaging. Silent Cloud slowly nods its head like something from Mo Wax or Massive Attack. Silent Sky is a big bass-lined standout, stuffed with soft spiralling near subliminal details for stoned, opened, expanded minds to get lost in, and recalling downtempo electronica classics such as Carl Craig’s Suspiria and Terre Thaemlitz’s Tranquillizer.

Kaito’s Collection is available from InFine.