Dave Chamberlain

Despite the fact that Makoto was born and raised in Japan, went to Nippon University in order to study music theory and has been a DJ in Tokyo since he was a teenager, his publicist neglects to mention to me that he speaks extremely limited English. When I call him at a hotel in Sacramento, that's quickly evident--and unfortunately, my Japanese is even worse than his English. Our middle ground is tenuous at best, with Makoto stuttering and pausing his way through very basic sentences--"I do drum `n' bass"--and me trying to both encourage and coax. However, if music transcends language, then Makoto ranks among the most accomplished polyglots. By infusing his brand of drum'n' bass with the aesthetics of his background (in soul-jazz, rare groove and even acid jazz), his "Human Elements," on LTJ Bukem's Good Looking Records, radiates with a genuine warmth that often escapes the breakbeat genre. Laden with impressive vocals (especially those by soul diva Lori Fine) and juiced by a number of tracks which eschew the junglist banter for straightforward neo-dance soul, "Human Elements" represents a new future for drum'n' bass, one that has been suggested by its luminaries in the nineties but hardly exploited. He opens for master Bukem, whose starry-eyed uplifting brand of jungle has sounded fresh for the better part of a decade, and who can control a crowd's emotions along with the best of the best DJ, regardless of genre.

Makoto and LTJ Bukem play April 19 at the Metro, 3730 North Clark, (773)549-0203.

(2003-04-15)

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