yuu udagawa: quantum blue
Francisco Espregueira
Phuture Shock Musik welcomes Yuu Udagawa to its roster with Quantum Blue, a tantalizing slice of future-facing, soulful electronic music. This captivating release follows past releases on labels such as Compost, Razor-N-Tape, Cosmocities, and Cyphon recordings, showcasing the Tokyo-born artist's vibrant artistry and ever-expanding sonic palette. Udagawa, who boasts a background in art and philosophy, skillfully fuses deep house, nu-jazz, soul, and 2-step, creating something truly distinct that transcends genre norms. Her groovy, analog-synth-laden productions are elegantly guided by Aristotle’s concept of the “golden mean,” finding a perfect balance between extremes.
The A-side features the original mix of “Quantum Blue”, a genre-bending romp that pairs seductive, neo-soul-esque vocals over glimmering chords, euphoric strings, and cascading synth bass grooves. These bubble between skippy UKG-inspired beats and Y2K-era future jazz, all wrapped in beautifully kaleidoscopic synth work that lends an otherworldly sheen. On the flip, Detroit's own Patrice Scott delivers a deeper, more understated take on the title cut. The veteran producer and Sistrum label head opts for a less-is-more approach, stripping away the original's luminous synths and adding warm, emotive keys, a dubby bass, and a sparse yet funky 4/4 drum track with an unmistakable 313 strut. His rework subtly toys with the vocals, creating an introspective, high-tech soul masterpiece that perfectly complements Udagawa's vision. Available on a limited 10’’ vinyl edition.