Coastlines is the self-titled long player from the new Japanese production unit of DJ and producer Masanori Ikeda and solo artist, session musician and Cro-Magnon keyboard player Takumi Kaneko.Masanori and Takumi have been part of the Japanese dance music scene for years and Coastlines was born out of their working together on soundtracks for video projects. The pair wanted to make laid-back listening music for now, laying Takumi's playful keys over Masanori's widescreen balearic jazz-fusion to conjure beautiful and breathtaking "coastlines".A couple of two-track 7"s put out in late 2018 and early 2019 on Japanese house music label Flower Records soon sold out. Those four tracks were expanded to a full album of music, "a joyous, relaxing, summery soundtrack for everyone's after hours wind down" that was released just in time for summer. It soundtracked many a Be With BBQ in 2019.The album opens in the horizontal with the sophisticated, cocktails-by-the-pool groove of "Sunset Reflection". A lush, beatless wonder. Their re-imagining of Ralph MacDonald's "East Dry River" removes all the original's bells and whistles (quite literally) and re-gears it with a subtle balearic chug. The result is a percussive gem."Coastline" is a beach-jazz noodle. "Drifting Ice" is as chilled and glacial as it's title would suggest, yet Masanori's head-nod slo-mo house beats throb not far below the surface. "My Fire" is another soft killer, all swelling, swirling organ over muted kicks and snares. An elegant boom-bap.A pair of insistent tunes of the deeply balearic variety raise the tempo, but not by too much of course. On "Woods And My Guitar" a half-heard vocal refrain breathes life into the synthetic xylophone and guitar. Deft piano-work turns "Half Moon Shadow" into lounge-house for the sophisticated beach bum. A classy duo.The self-assured re-work of Azymuth's "Last Summer In Rio" is arguably the album's centrepiece. Ten minutes of casually propulsive slapped bass, steel pans and slick 80s soul beats. Cue the steel drum interlude of "Maracas Bay" before album closer "Down Town" transitions us one with a shuffling, string-hinted hit of ethereal, euphoric piano bliss. Gentle disco for the new decade.As former Test Pressing scribe Dr. Rob observed on his ever-reliable Ban Ban Ton Ton blog, the Coastlines fusion is very much in conversation with their 80s counterparts, both at home and along the coastlines of different continents. So among the nods to revered Japanese artists like Hiroshi Sato, Sakamoto and Casiopea, there are also hints of Marcos Valle and Mtume, of the aforementioned Azymuth. "The production though is very much now, not then. Not retro, just proper". We couldn't put it better ourselves.Coastlines was originally a CD release only available in Japan, with HMV putting out a super-limited vinyl version a few months later for Japanese Record Store Day. But this music is just too good, so when Be With was asked via Ken Hidaka to take care of a vinyl version for the rest of the world it wasn't a tough decision.Mastered by Simon Francis and cut by Pete Norman, just 500 copies of this double LP have been pressed by the good people at Record Industry.
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Ortofon 2M Red Cartridge
Features an elliptical stylus that accurately tracks the grooves of vinyl records, delivering a rich, detailed sound with an output voltage of 5.5 mV
-
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO
Featuring a one-piece carbon fiber tonearm, precision-tuned motor, and a heavy steel platter with TPE damping, it ensures superior stability and sound quality.
-
Audioengine A2 Plus
Precision-engineered 2.75-inch woofers and a 0.75-inch silk dome tweeter, featuring built-in DAC and Bluetooth connectivity for seamless integration.
-
Pro-Ject Phono Box DC Pre-Amp
Compact, high-performance phono preamplifier for both MM and MC cartridges, delivering a clean, detailed signal with minimal noise.
-
Denon DP-400
Featuring a high-precision, belt-driven mechanism and an adjustable tonearm that ensures optimal tracking and minimal resonance
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Grateful Dead Blues For Allah (50th Anniversary)
Grateful Dead Production
October 10, 2025 -
Ben Quad Wisher
Pure Noise Records
November 14, 2025 -
The Warlocks The Manic Excessive Sounds Of
Cleopatra Records
October 31, 2025 -
Carlos Niño Saul Williams & Friends Saul Williams meets Carlos Niño & Friends at Treepeople [2xLP]
International Anthem Recording Co
September 19, 2025 -
Dying Wish Flesh Stays Together
Sharptone
September 26, 2025 -
Florence + The Machine Everybody Scream
Republic Records
October 31, 2025 -
Wretched Decay
Metal Blade
October 17, 2025 -
Mulatu Astatke Mulatu Plays Mulatu
Strut
September 26, 2025 -
Bon Jovi Forever (Legendary Edition) [2xLP]
Island
October 24, 2025 -
Skylar Spence Prom King 10 Year Anniversary (Deluxe Edition, Yellow) [2xLP]
Carpark Records
September 19, 2025 -
Molly Nilsson Amateur
Night School
October 17, 2025 -
Oasis (What's The Story) MORNING GLORY? (30Th Anniversary; Deluxe Edition) (Exclusive) [3xLP]
Big Brother Recordings Limited
October 3, 2025 -
Jim White Inner Day
Drag City
October 24, 2025 -
Begonia Fantasy Life (Red)
Birthday Cake Media
November 14, 2025