Kossaiko vinyl

You don't have to do much more than glance at the track listing here to gauge what Kossaiko will feel like, if not know what to expect in terms of the actual sound. There's a real air of sophistication permeating the whole album, which chooses to take classical, piano-led roots, and combine those with touches of electronic ambient, leading to something that feels grounded in musical tradition yet just that little bit different. For the most part, this is realised through sonic serenity, but Saikoss' album isn't confined to that mode. 'Page 09, Line 16' uses whimsy to build a soundscape that's packed with jazz inflections and also video game score nuances, for example. Overall, it's nothing if not thoroughly and vividly accomplished, an intimate and quiet gem that marks the artist out as a master.