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AUS
EAU
EM RECORDS - Cat No: EMC-027LP
- updated:2026-01-20
From EM RECORDS comes a delicate and beautiful sound that blends the "koto"—a traditional Japanese instrument used in gagaku and other genres—with environmental and ambient electronic music. This is "aus," the solo project of Yasuhiko Fukuzono, who has released music under the name "flau" and others. It’s truly wonderful. (Saito)
Track List
"Eau" is the lovely new album from aus, the solo project of Tokyo-born composer and producer Yasuhiko Fukuzono, who has gained attention, in Japan and overseas, for his thoughtfully paced and sensitively skillful music as well as his intriguing sound design for exhibitions and experimental cinema. Having worked primarily with keyboards and electronic sound up to this point, "Eau" is a slight yet fascinating shift for aus; the album, while still primarily an electronic work, revolves around the sonic world of a stringed acoustic sound source, the koto, that most characteristically Japanese of musical instruments. The very accomplished Eden Okuno provides the delicate-yet-rich koto sounds on offer here; Fukuzono, in the liner notes, acknowledges the importance of Okuno’s artistry to the project.
The compositions on the album are designed to balance the sound of the koto, with its subtly variable attack and flickering resonance, with the timbre of other instruments. The delicate decay and metrical flexibility of the koto is enveloped by sustained synthesizer sounds and contrapuntally constructed piano melodies, creating a flowing ambience with absorbing undercurrents, a languid and liquid quality that reveals the suitability of the title.
Avid fans of contemporary Japanese music might hear the influence of pioneering works such as the the 1979 Hiroshi Yoshimura composition “Clouds for Alma", realized by koto player Tadao Sawai, and the 1993 album "Koto Vortex I: Works by Hiroshi Yoshimura" which featured performances of Yoshimura's works by the Japanese koto quartet Koto Vortex. These works attempted to remove the koto from its traditional context and place it within the context of ambient and techno. "Eau" is available on CD/LP/cassette/digital, with E/J liner notes by aus. "Eau" is the first collaborative release by EM Records and FLAU, the label run by Yasuhiko Fukuzono (aus).
The compositions on the album are designed to balance the sound of the koto, with its subtly variable attack and flickering resonance, with the timbre of other instruments. The delicate decay and metrical flexibility of the koto is enveloped by sustained synthesizer sounds and contrapuntally constructed piano melodies, creating a flowing ambience with absorbing undercurrents, a languid and liquid quality that reveals the suitability of the title.
Avid fans of contemporary Japanese music might hear the influence of pioneering works such as the the 1979 Hiroshi Yoshimura composition “Clouds for Alma", realized by koto player Tadao Sawai, and the 1993 album "Koto Vortex I: Works by Hiroshi Yoshimura" which featured performances of Yoshimura's works by the Japanese koto quartet Koto Vortex. These works attempted to remove the koto from its traditional context and place it within the context of ambient and techno. "Eau" is available on CD/LP/cassette/digital, with E/J liner notes by aus. "Eau" is the first collaborative release by EM Records and FLAU, the label run by Yasuhiko Fukuzono (aus).
"Eau," the new album by "aus," the solo project of composer and producer Yasuhiko Fukuzono. This beautiful work—which fully features the koto played by Raku Okuno—marks a captivating new direction for aus.
Known for its thoughtful, delicate techniques and captivating sound design for art exhibitions and experimental films—which have earned it a devoted following both in Japan and abroad—aus has primarily focused on keyboard and electronic sound works until now. While still rooted in electronic sound, this album, *Eau*, marks a compelling shift in direction for *aus*, centering on the sonic world of the koto—one of the most distinctive string instruments in Japan. The numerous delicate yet rich koto phrases and timbres are performed by the exceptionally talented musician Eden Okuno. In his commentary on the work, Aus praises the importance of Okuno’s performance and artistry in this project.
The tracks on *O* are designed to balance the koto’s subtly shifting attack and shimmering resonance with the timbres of other instruments. The koto’s delicate decay and flexible rhythm are enveloped by sustained synthesizer tones and contrapuntally constructed piano melodies, creating a captivating undercurrent and a flowing ambient atmosphere with a melancholic, fluid quality.
When considering the modern history of the koto, enthusiasts of Japanese contemporary music will recognize in *O* echoes of Hiroshi Yoshimura’s *Alma’s Clouds* (1979), realized by Tadao Sawai, the album *Koto Vortex I: Works by Hiroshi Yoshimura* (1993) by the koto ensemble Koto Vortex, which also features works by Hiroshi Yoshimura. Both are pioneering works that sought to detach the koto from its traditional roots and place it within the context of ambient and techno music, and they have also influenced *O*. Additionally, 1970s Japanese contemporary music works, such as Makoto Moroi’s *Spatial Music for Traditional Japanese Instruments*, served as sources of inspiration for *O*.
The physical edition includes liner notes in Japanese and English by Aus. The cover art was designed by Mugi Hashimoto, and the mastering was handled by Makoto Oshiro. It will be released on CD, LP, cassette, and digitally, with the CD, digital, and LP versions featuring different cover art. This release marks the first collaborative release between the label *FLAU* and M Records.”