Description
Esteemed Detroit musician, Japanese Telecom, formally recognized for his exceptional contribution to Drexciya, manifested another facet of his musical genius with the arrival of his 2022 project, ‘Virtual Geisha’. As a diversion from the characteristic Detroit Hi-Tech Machine Funk famous in his roots, this body of work was a refreshing twist reflecting discernible influences from the East. The album resembled a surreal exploration of adult Manga-inspired narratives interwoven with an engaging pop undertone. Tracks such as ‘Enter Mrs. Suzuki’ and ‘Japanese Matrix’ were shining testimonials of the innovative evolution in Japanese Telecom‘s storytelling through rhythm, which he would later extend to his future projects.
Just as Juan Atkins ingeniously created the persona ‘Model 500’ in the mid-’80s, Japanese Telecom added another intriguing layer to the collection of Detroit’s enigmatic electro artists, who invariably concealed their true identities, thereby driving the intrigue for their music. Artists of this genre, such as Ectomorph, Cybotron, Dopplereffekt, AUX 88, Drexciya, and ADULT., have all made their distinctive mark in creating a legacy of techno music renowned for its dark and menacing undertone, driven by funky beats and resonating techno synths.
Japanese Telecom however, carved out a unique niche within this legacy. His work on ‘Virtual Geisha’ beckoned a shift from the depths of darkness towards a lighter, delightful spectrum of music. Intricate collages of eccentric beats backed by a warm and friendly style akin to J. Burger’s ‘The Modernist’, coupled with catchy musical hooks formed the backdrop of this album.
Masterpieces such as ‘Virtual Geisha She Interacts’, catalogue the seamless union between the traditional Detroit machine funk and the innovative, exploratory synths that defined this project. This body of work was a captivating representation of the considerable shift in Japanese Telecom‘s musical direction, in blending the hard-edged Midwest electro, that were instrumental in his music career, with a mesmerizing touch of freshness reminiscent of the botanic melodies from the East.
As an immersive tribute to Japanese Telecom, ‘Virtual Geisha’ echoes with subtle but engaging nods to the music legends Yellow Magic Orchestra, sequenced with fresh sounds and inspiring ideas unique to Donald, which later would hallmark future Dopplereffekt projects. This full-length album was a captivating journey into a futuristic domain of musical enlightenment.
Japanese Telecom’s ‘Virtual Geisha’ stands out as a remarkable testament that embodies the exciting journey of a Detroit techno artist plunging into a fascinating exploration of Eastern cultures and technologies. The year 2022 saw this unique twist come to light, adding a riveting chapter to the thriving techno music scenes across the globe. This album indeed, was a revolutionary incorporation of Midwest electro rooted in Detroit’s soil with the ethereal echoes of Japan’s techno music eons away!
