SERA020 - Satellite Era presents “Moon Behind The Eyelids EP,” a collection of storytelling songs by Keisuke Matsuoka, best known as Ton Mise.
Out now on all major platforms:
ffm.to/sera020
"Light Seen Through Gaps In Buildings" - premiered by Rendah Mag:
rendahmag.com/article/premiere-ton-mise-moon-behind-the-eyelids
As the year progresses into March, we take a sonic trip back to warm, nostalgic landscapes drenched in the spring sunlight. The days become longer, the nights grow restless, and life begins once again. For this next journey, we call on a distant friend residing 10,000 kilometers away from the Satellite Era HQ.
Nested in the beautiful city of Nagano is Japanese artist Ton Mise. His sound lands somewhere between two familiar realms that encapsulate our collective’s vision: experimental electronic music derived from a fabled past, along with boundary-pushing dance music fully compatible in club settings. Being influenced by early renditions of trip-hop and golden-age electronica, his music library once consisted of various labels like Merck, Skam, and Neo Ouija. Nowadays, he hunts for newfound dancefloor weapons that still pay homage to the former greats. This hybrid style landed his previous releases on underground imprints such as Eerik Inpuj Sound stateside and NoDiscoRecords in Japan.
After a couple of appearances on our beloved Distant Arrays series, Ton Mise returns with his best and most cohesive work yet. “Moon Behind The Eyelids EP” unveils a short story within each track, all influenced by Japanese subcultures and fitted into one shared theme. Each song title describes a moment in time, usually something trivial, and is paired with audio that helps paint each scene effortlessly. The EP starts with “Perfect Square Cluster Of Lampposts,” a clear nod to groovy, midtempo electronica. “Light Seen Through Gaps In Buildings” and “Iron Whale Takeoff” both portray his growing sense of modern yet emotive dance music. “Medium-Sized Tautological Machine” is a head-nodding joint that flexes a more aggressive side of his production, yet still incorporates lush vocals to keep it grounded. The release concludes with “Tehbep” and its title track, two respectful odes to jungle that blend dusty synths with playful percussion.
“Moon Behind The Eyelids EP” serves as a testament to Ton Mise’s unique take on moody electronica and contemporary dance music. Each song blossoms amidst the springtime, bringing a vibrant atmosphere to the soundscape without the lack of glitchy, intricate drum work.