Makoto has long been a popular figure in the drum and bass scene, since emerging as LTJ Bukem’s protégé in the mid-nineties.
With his early releases on Good Looking Records, Makoto delivered deliciously deep and soulful drum and bass, occasionally exploring down-tempo territory on the seminal Earth series. His first solo album Human Elements (2003) continued along similar lines, and two years later the Golden Girl single was an instant classic.
However, by his second album Believe In My Soul (2007), Makoto’s sound seemed to have become a little stale, like much of the scene in the mid-noughties.
Fast-forward to 2011 and a drum and bass renaissance, fuelled by an injection of fresh talent, has arguably given rise to more exciting new music than ever before, from artists established and new. Against this backdrop, and after a three-year hiatus from music production, Makoto has returned with his third album, Souled Out.
Fortunately, Makoto’s break seems to have done him the world of good – he’s back to his best and serves up a veritable smågasbord of musical delights with this latest effort.
The album starts gently with a prelude of swelling pads and cosmic effects setting the tone for the laid-back instrumental Magic Hour, before bursting into life with the funky, up-tempo Tower Of Love, featuring the vocal talents of Paul Randolph.
And so begins a magical journey which sees Makoto effortlessly turn his hand to a myriad of musical styles – expertly swinging from disco-funk with Girl I’m Running Back 2 U, through deep-garage with In Between, to the electro-jazz workout Turning Points which wouldn’t sound out of place on a Herbie Hancock album.
At this point, I’m guessing a few die-hard bass heads will be shuffling uncomfortably in their seats, if indeed they’re still reading. And perhaps with good reason – only four of the fifteen tracks could be called drum and bass: in addition to Tower Of Love, Keep Me Down is underpinned by the classic Amen break, and Woe and Untold both feature long-time vocal collaborator Deeizm.
As the title suggests, this is really a soul album at heart, and vocals feature heavily – all of them beautifully performed. But Makoto draws on minimal sounds and flawless production to turn his unmistakable ‘funk and bass’ into something bang up to date and more expansive than ever.
The album is rounded off by Room Enough – a straight jazz number featuring the silky smooth vocals of the legendary Clevland Watkiss – a parting reminder that the album isn’t constrained by genre.
Makoto – Souled Out is out now on Human Elements (HE002CD)
