One listen and it was an easy one, I think. Occasionally I’ve wanted to write about some of Nujabes’ work but, considering how his music is, I’ve worried about if I could and as such not done so. Here I decided to just go ahead and do it and I didn’t have much difficulty. There were some parts where I started thinking a little too much about what I was writing, but overall it was a smooth experience.

Nujabes’ “Mystline” is from Samurai Champloo Music Record – Departure. This album is one of a few covering Samurai Champloo‘s music. There are a few artists features over the albums and on this one it’s Nujabes and Fat Jon. The album also features vocals from Shing02 and Minmi.

I hope you enjoy.

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Piano rolls into a percussive strike, and it’s a gentle flow. Perhaps it is introspection here, or maybe it is some sort of danger, risk of failure. Maybe it is a forlorn pause, or maybe it is pensive. It is a moment of pause, and perhaps breathing.

Bass, or at least something that sounds like bass comes in and gently strikes whilst a lower, muffled sound makes itself apparent, seemingly moving constantly whilst still. The percussive strike leaves and eventually something else arrives and flickers and trails off the piano.

It remains a breathing moment and it draws out many things, and it continues as the piano builds, as does the flicker. But then some of it pulls away, as does most of the piano and, as the bass and muffled sound continue on there is stillness.

The keys return and move around, fluttering here and there, striking odd cut angles whilst swimming gracefully around the space. There is a slight joy in it all but it does not overwhelm and eventually the keys return to their original state. The moment holds and thoughts stretch outward, and maybe a calm is found.

Eventually it’s the keys alone, playing into silence, following their flow until they too stop and the song ends.