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Description
GDRL-612
Apr 08, 2003
USD $9.99
Out of Stock, Out of Print
3xLP CD
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Caia - The Magic Dragon
The Magic Dragon is the debut long player from Japanese Recording artist Maiku Takahashi which was produced, recorded, arranged, and engineered by Andy Cato of Groove Armada fame. Andy first met Maiku while on a tour of the Far East back in 1998. Bonded together by their shared love of vintage Adidas trainers and obscure Northern soul 7"s, the pair became fast friends and Andy later signed on to produce Maiku's debut LP while on a break from touring and recording with Groove Armada. The result of their collaboration is this captivating collection of timeless subterranean trip hop soundscapes. Masterfully fusing raw hip hop breaks and bottom heavy base lines with lush synthesizer melodies, blissful vocal harmonics and gentle guitar chords, the duo deliver a sophisticated and seductive program of exotic far east inspired down tempo electronica that harks back to Groove Armada's Balearic chill out classic "At the River" and will appeal to fans of Nightmares on Wax, The Dining Rooms, DJ Krush and Toshinori Kondo.
| a1 |
La Telecabine |
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| b1 |
Remembrance |
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| b2 |
Whose Blues |
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| c1 |
Heavy Weather |
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| c2 |
Mr. Gone |
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| d1 |
The Love Room |
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| d2 |
Afterwards @ The Bar |
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| e1 |
The Rose Room |
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| e2 |
Summer Lightning |
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| f1 |
Subway Freedom |
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| f2 |
Jericho |
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Reviews
Magazine Reviews
Blissed out collection of downtempo trip-hop and bass driven beats. The product of a collaboration between Maiku Takahashi and Groove Armada's Andy Cato, Magic Dragon is a tantalizing blend of warm, inviting electronica that avoids sounding like a tired rehash of the standard chill out fare. With plenty of synths and lush vocal harmonies, it calms you down with out boring you to tears. File Under: Thievery Corporation, Ryksopp, Nightmares On Wax.
Big Shot Magazine - Sarah Riedel
Jun 9, 2003
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This ia special album. Not because it is mind-blowingly groundbreaking or breathtakingly avante-garde, because it's one of those that grabs you from the very beginning, and seduces you further on each consecutive cut with its stylish musical sweet talk. Caia is the name under which Japanese recording artist Maiku Takahashi collaborates with Andy Cato, more famously known as as one half of Groove Armada and the Weekend Players. The Magic Dragon bears the hallmark of Groove Armada at its stoned, exquisite best, but it's taken to a whole other level. Relaxed hip hop breakbeats underpin lush soundscapes that beckon with soothing uplifting chord progressions, warm basslines and the occasionally other worldly vocal, all of which taps directly into your relaxation mainframe and automatically hotwire it to the "on" position. Track titles such as "Subway Freedom" and "AfterwardsAt The Bar" succinctly conjur up images of the urban bliss that this album exudes - this is the antidote for the city dweller of the 21st century. The fingerprints of Andy Cato are all over this record; he seems to be single-handedly carving out a new niche of wired urban soul. At many moments The Magic Dragon seems to be in direct conversation. Listen to Caia's "Jericho" and you'll be reminded of the Weekend Players' "Subway" while Cais's "La Telecabine" speaks to the Players' "Jericho." The Magic Dragon reflects a powerful chemistry between its two proponents, and should spark a similar reaction between your hearing and your imagination.
BPM Magazine - Lucy Beer
Jun 9, 2003
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After rising to be a number one star through album sales of over 250,000 units, Andy Cato of famed Groove Armada teams up with Japanese Recording artist Maiku Takahashi aka Caia and takes us on a musical journey with The Magic Dragon. After meeting in 1998 on tour, Cato and Caia instantly realized the bond they shared. On a break from tour with Groove Armada, Cato dedicated himself to producing, recording, arranging and engineering Caia's first LP. Cato and Caia masterfully paint a picture inspired by the Far East through fusing raw uncut hip hop breaks with lush synthesizer melodies, cavernous baselines and divine vocals. This super sexy program offers down tempo electronica intertwined with seductive trip hop qualities. Already in regular rotation on trend-setting LA radio station KCRW, this album is sure to be a summer hit with the masses.
Allaboutdj.com - Kelli McKenney
Jun 3, 2003
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Caia is a new project and the long awaited debut of Maiku Takahashi and Groove Armada's Andy Cato. The latter has been in to more uptempo tunes nowadays as can be heard on the latest Groove Armada offering 'Lovebox'. Any first met Maiku on a tour in the Far East in 1998, so it has taken some five years for their collaborative effort to be released. This album cannot be compared to what Groove Armada did on the 'Lovebox' album. It's much more atmospheric, ambient chill out beats over chilly trip hop beats/ Say, what has Groove Armade been known for for some years now? 'The Magic Dragon' takes you to a dream in the Far East with this exotic chill out. For those who are not in to innovation but like decent stuff in down-tempo, The Magic Dragon is certainly a better choice than 'Lovebox'!
Plastiks - Perr 'n' Bent
Jun 2, 2003
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Maiku Takahashi, better known as Caia, shows once again why the Japanese trip-hop scene is revered throughout the globe. His style of trip-hop, however, is noticeably different from his more-noted brethren DJ Krush, as he focuses less on dark, spooky soundscapes and more on magical, trance-like synth lines, airy female vocals, tactful scratches and ample amounts of Northern soul. Tracks like "The Rose Room" leap out with a West Coast funk style reminiscent of Greyboy's solo work. "Remembrance" has all the makings of a sunrise anthem. "The Love Room" shimmers with fudge-thick jazz hooks, syncopated percussion and spacey vocals. "La Telecabine" has an ethereal element best heard on the wonderful Bluprint album on Exceptional. Think of an evening of amazing conversation over red wine then picture that exact moment of the night when time seems to stand still. "Jericho" is every bit the seductive monster that Arkestra One unleashed late last year on ESL Music. Caia's Themagicdragon isn't as jaw-dropping as the Hint album on Ninja Tune, but it will certainly impress any self-respecting downtempo junkie. (Guidance)
The Weekly Dig - Craig Kapilow
May 19, 2003
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Prodotto da Andy Cato dei Groove Armada, un buon album, che sotto lo pseudonimo di Caia, nasconde l'artista nipponico Maiku Takashi, al suo esordio, dimostrandosi risultato di un incontro proficuo, all'insegna di sofisticati ritmi downtempo, intrisi con sapienza e misurata elettronica. Per la grazia tenue, un riferimento possibile potrebbe essere il connazionale Sakamoto (in anni passati), ad esempio proprio 'Remembrance', seconda traccia, gioca sull'iterazione del motivo dettato dalla tastiera, sviluppandosi sobriamente con cori in sottofondo, appropriati, ma che certo non fanno gridare all'inedito. Molti i trattamenti che con intelligenza e maggior brio degli originali hanno metabolizzato la scuola di Bristol, oppure che campionano frammenti breaks mutuati dall'hip hop ('The Rose Room'). Riuscendo ad essere appetibile anche per i molti cultori delle sonorit chill out, non mancano i momenti percussivi, pi balearici ed estivi ('Summer Lightening'), fra synth ed armonie, vocalit suggerite ('Subway Freedom') o melanconici suoni di tromba (in 'Whose Blues'). Gentili accordi di chitarra reiterati in moduli pi volte fanno capolino. Un'uscita ammiccante, che potrebbe piacere molto anche al grosso pubblico. Aurelio Cianciotta
neural.it
May 19, 2003
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It seems Andy Cato is turning himself into the most prolific producer in Britain these days. Not content enough to churn out a new Groove Armada record every 12 months, then creating the musical frame for the phenomenal Weekend Players debut, his seven foot + of groove savoir faire now has him moonlight with Japanese composer Maiku Takahashi. Dropping a demo here and there for the past two years has created an intoxicating buzz feeding on anticipation. Now finally revealed, Caia is the essential Balearic chill out manifesto, the record that takes you to the realm of dreams and happy memories by way of lush keyboard sounds and grooves that roll like waves on a beach, the lyrical soundtrack to a blissful summer. The Magic Dragon builds up through deja vu. Borrowing from every sound, texture and progression of downtempo and trip-hop of the past 5 years, it is both a nostalgic and vanguard production dedicated to building the right vibe and let it flow. Two pre-vocal versions of Weekend Players tracks connect the dots between Cato's various ventures, offering a glimpse into his seemingly endless creative process. Put on repeat till Autumn.
http://www.bookla.com - mgdraw
May 19, 2003
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After rising to be a number one star through album sales of over 250,000 units, Andy Cato of famed Groove Armada teams up with Japanese Recording artist Maiku Takahashi aka Caia and takes us on a musical journey with The Magic Dragon. After meeting in 1998 on tour, Cato and Caia instantly realized the bond they shared. On a break from tour with Groove Armada, Cato dedicated himself to producing, recording, arranging and engineering Caia's first LP. Cato and Caia masterfully paint a picture inspired by the Far East through fusing raw uncut hip hop breaks with lush synthesizer melodies, cavernous baselines and divine vocals. This super sexy program offers down tempo electronica intertwined with seductive trip hop qualities. Already in regular rotation on trend-setting LA radio station KCRW, this album is sure to be a summer hit with the masses.
All About Dj.com - Kelli McKenni
Apr 23, 2003
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Produced by Groove Armada's Andy Cato, this debut album by the precociously talented Maiku Takahashi deserves to find great favour in chill-out rooms, fashionable suburban lounges, with fans of Groove Armada's Vertigo, and everywhere else with those who enjoy a late-night mood. For decades Japanese musicians - think Stomu Yamashta's more melodious solo stuff, Ryuichi Sakamoto and even the swelling chintzy-synths of Kitaro - have had a mainline to effortless melodic ambience and Takahashi intuitively combines that history with subtle break beats, a trip-hop sensibility and warm washes of synths. There's sometimes a solid pulse behind proceedings, but the foregrounds deliver attractive and slightly downbeat breezes that are elevating and always interesting. Very seductive and one of the most impressive debuts in the smile-inducing, thoughtful downbeat genre since Lemon Jelly. Go.
New Zealand Herald
Apr 15, 2003
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Guest Reviews
this is some of the best downtempo i've heard in ages. well produced, diverse, melodic... highly recommended for lazy summer nights
Benito - fluke.student.utwente.nl/chilledbeats/
Jun 3, 2003
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Smooth melodies, strong bass lines, and a title like "The Magic Dragon" what else should be said about this CD. This is a magical album. It has tunes that would set the mood, and, tunes that would make you groove.
Amir - http://fluke.student.utwente.nl/chilledbeats/
Jun 3, 2003
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