The Melting Hours - The Melting Hours

The first physical release from The Melting Hours, a live project by Wata Igarashi and Kuniyuki, will be released by Beyond Space And Time, a label run by Rainbow Disco Club .

The following is the press release information.

The latest release from Rainbow Disco Club's label line 'Beyond Space And Time' is the first recording from The Melting Hours, a live project by Wata Igarashi and Kuniyuki. Wata Igarashi continues to make significant contributions to techno history, while Kuniyuki has long been revered as a treasure of Sapporo. The two, who have long held each other in high esteem, came together for the first time when they appeared at the Draaimolen Festival 2025, and this project, The Melting Hours, was launched.

"Blue Sun" possesses a freshness reminiscent of ambient jazz masterpieces from prestigious labels like ECM and Windham Hill. "Liquid Dunes" features organic sounds of flute and percussion blended into an abstract sound texture lasting over 10 minutes, while "Cloud Touch" is a breathtaking track that awakens you with a whirlwind of pulsating downbeats and arpeggios. "Blue Sun" is said to be a reconstructed version of studio rehearsal recordings, while "Liquid Dunes" and "Cloud Touch" are reconstructed versions of live recordings from Draaimolen 2025. The essence of these works, and indeed of The Melting Hours project itself, lies at its core: improvisation.

Wata and Kuniyuki build the sound from scratch, drawing on their skills in manipulating electronics and acoustic instruments, and their musical journeys, including periods before their foray into electronic music where they were drawn to free jazz, new wave, and industrial music. External and accidental factors, such as the rain that started falling during their performance at Draaimolen, or a bee that wandered into the studio during rehearsal, as well as fluctuations in emotions and mood, all intertwine within the process. The thrill of creating music amidst these unexpected twists and turns is what makes this work and project so special.

I recall the Rainbow Disco Club in 2026, where music was woven together under a clear blue sky, surrounded by fresh greenery and listeners. Led by The Melting Hours' session, which felt almost like a living organism, a pulsating energy seemed to spread throughout the dance floor. The organic breath felt in this work evokes that scene, and at the same time, it makes me feel the uniqueness of this project, which is confined to that place and time, and therefore the limitless possibilities that can unfold from it.