Just like regular music, only free.

Known primarily as the male half of experimental pop-electronica-jazz duo Rimacona labs, Marihiko Hara departs from structured pop-song writing and dives ears-first into ambient soundscapes. There's a feeling of tonal space throughout the album - a layering of soft lows and harsh highs that, more often than not, fit the collection well. Whilst there are elements of beauty here, it's not all happiness and light in the gardens of Hara; there's loneliness and even menace under the surface, particularly on 'composition', the album's equivalent to watching Ring alone with the lights off. The jazz influences of Rimacona break through on occasion - 'sleep' uses jagged, choppy piano underneath white noise, clicks and bleeps to intrigue, but ultimately confuse. Not the best track, but interesting, and hints at promising things to come.

Standout tracks include the opening track 'ripple', with slow, casual synth swells that hover throughout, incised with the occasional high frequency sweep. Pleasure and pain in equal quantities. Startling, especially from an 'ambient' release. 'Glasperlenspiel' is a difficult but worthwhile listen, with confused and broken glitches creeping in and inexorably overrunning the warm, tonal beginning - the musical equivalent of walking barefoot on a deep pile carpet only to find pieces of broken glass underfoot.

Finally, the closing track, 'modena', with thoroughly mangled guest vocals from Natsuko Yanagimoto feels open and relaxed, retaining just enough structure and movement to stay interesting for the duration.

It remains to be seen what's to come from Hara - he certainly seems comfortable in this setting, however the album doesn't quite hang together in the end. It's not the fault of the individual tracks; perhaps it isn't designed to be listened to in one sitting.

Download the full album here.