Juno Daily: In The Mix – Cool Maritime
The LA modular obsessive goes deep, providing us with an unorthodox mix of Japanese enviro-ambient, film music and deep rarities
Cool Maritime (Sean Hellfritsch) stops by for a unique take on our In The Mix series today. While many of our usual invitees are dance artists through and through, Hellfritsch’s background is firmly rooted in LA’s ambient modular scene.
Building off his connection to one of the city’s most established labels, Leaving Records, his next record Big Earth Energy marks a departure away from his former analog synth washes. Instead, his new music opts for more melodious, enviro-ambient arrangements, drawing on the many Japanese artists, composers and soundtracks he had admired over the years – such as Studio Ghibili’s Joe Hisiashi and the ‘90s PC game MYST.
It’s time we prefaced the LP premiere with a deep plomb into Cool Maritime’s mind. He explains himself:
“I’m calling this mix Natural Wonders. It’s a collection of pieces that imbue me with notions of mystery, adventure, compassion, momentum and wonder every time I experience them.
“I’ve included two songs from my upcoming album Big Earth Energy;, which was written while planting myself firmly in those very potent feelings – and was partly inspired by the work of featured composers Yochiro Yoshikawa and Joe Hisaishi (among others). Most of these songs are from the 80s or early 90s – but there are also a couple recordings from contemporary artists that I think are tapped into the same vibe.”
The tracklist is as follows:
Cool Maritime – Temporal Dryft
Yochiro Yoshikawa – Tarawa
Vangelis Katsoulis – Luminous Water
Motohiko Hamase – サークレット
Joe Hisaishi – Mobius Love
Liila – Appa Wú Wéi
Hiroshi Yoshimura – Singing Stream (Spring Mix)
Green-House – Starling Murmurations
Haruomi Hosono – Mercuric Dance
Shiho Yabuki – Ki no Nagare 気の流れ (The Way of Energy Flow)
Yochiro Yoshikawa – Keirin (Remix)
Joe Hisaishi – Kaze No Toorimichi
Cool Maritime – Apex