RA The Best Albums of 2022

RA编辑 N.C.

Before this album, Japan's deep house don hadn't released a full-length in over 25 years. But it's abundantly clear that he hasn't lost his touch. There's a light, almost weightless, feel to this 11-track LP as the Tokyo composer and producer shows off his mastery of twinkling chords, spacey disco grooves, vintage synth patterns and video game sounds. Asakusa Light is relatively sparse—even its big-room tracks like "Bamboo Fighter" feature relatively minimal arrangements—which allows his signature melodies to really shine. Graceful and flowing, this is an album that celebrates Terada's craft without feeling like a pastiche of his '90s discography.