vocal

jansen and yukihiro takahashi co-write

for this uk based recording

aziz ibrahim, ben coleman, theo travis with

vocals by takahashi, zoe niblett, sonia mehta,

tony mansfield

Yukihiro Takahashi, formerly drummer with Yellow Magis Orchestra (Ryuichi Sakamoto), joined with

Jansen to write and produce a new mini-album of song material. With both musicians already hosting a

cult status in the UK for their musical contributions to the outer-bounderies of pop and instrumental

music, this album is quite a departure in that it clearly places itself more directly in the grip of

contemporary pop-music.

Takahashi has devoted much of his later career to the Japanese domestic music scene, in contrast to

his love of western music and the bridges built by his former band Yellow Magic Orchestra (and

contrary to fellow member Ryuichi Sakamoto who has since developed his career within the western

music scene). However, in recent years Takahashi has spent time developing his own recording label

(and studio) in partnership with fashion designer and close friend Yohji Yamamoto, (who is now

becoming known in Japan as a singer / songwriter) in a attempt to break a few of the boundaries that

exist when working with the major labels of Japan.

This independence has afforded Takahashi the freedom to pursue

his earlier relationship with Jansen, which began in the eighties

with live collaborations as well as a single in 1986 entitled `Stay

Close'. Takahashi asked Jansen to work closely with him, writing

material for a UK based recording unit that would allow a

departure from his intensive work within the Japanese music scene.

The result is `Pulse' - title and band name - which features female vocalist Zoe Niblett (occasional

singer with `Locust') and classical Indian singer Sonia Mehta, as well as featuring vocals by

Takahashi (in English) and with a combination of Japanese and English musicians - amongst them

Mancunian guitarist Aziz Ibrahim (Stone Roses, Ian Brown and Simply Red) who's unique style rests

somewhere between contemporary rock and influences from traditional Pakistani music.

For Jansen, the chance to write and record once more with Takahashi was seen as a great opportunity to

introduce some of Britains innovative talent to the Japanese music scene.

Steve: " In musical terms, the `Pulse' recording to me is a straight forward

collection of pop songs with a few deviations thrown in, but it's also a

platform for introducing and blending some very special musicians and

vocalists. When you consider that domestic trends dominate most aspects

of commerciality in Japan, and that the majority of high profile talent from

the west is greatly over-indulged in, there seems very little room for

introducing alternatives - however, as long as Japan continues to eye Britain

for it's creative talent then there is still potential to emerge from areas other

than those already established."

1. Life's Like That

2. The Choice

3. Wave

4. Memory Without Consequence

5. A River Dry

6. Prayer Of Gold