The bilingual title of the track is already a statement about one’s own vision of the world and sense of sound. The track ‘Oh, Wind (風よ、運んで)’ by Saruhashi exists simultaneously on two registers: the English title opens the door, the Japanese subtitle sets the temperature inside. Roughly the same way, all of Saruhashi’s music is structured, an artist with Japanese-Taiwanese roots who grew up in London. His music gravitates toward dream pop, although he holds genre boundaries loosely. In each of his releases, one can hear that the specific sound and atmosphere of the track emerge in the course of the work. The new single ‘Oh, Wind (風よ、運んで)’ is yet another confirmation of this approach and a continuation of the sonic universe that Saruhashi builds consistently and with obvious attention to detail.

Dream Pop, Atmosphere, Immersion

-PurpleMistress

‘Oh, Wind (風よ、運んで)’ is a surprisingly light title, reflecting the light and hazy sound of the single. Saruhashi grows the track like a garden, allowing it to take the form that emerges in the process. Perhaps that is why ‘Oh, Wind (風よ、運んで)’ begins with space. The first seconds are soft textures, synthesizer layers delicately unfolded in width, and vocals so light that they merge with the instrumental fabric. The track works through atmosphere. Saruhashi bypasses the familiar pop sound. Instead, the song develops smoothly, giving the details time to reveal themselves. Soft waves intertwine with one another, creating an effect of fluidity, and the vocals of Saruhashi are embedded in the overall fabric as an additional instrument. Amazing! This choice, vocals as instrument, deserves separate attention. The voice here exists on the same level as the synthesizer pads and melodic loops, which creates a feeling of complete immersion. Absolutely recommended for listening!