The demise of Kikagaku Moyo in 2022 came as a bit of a surprise; the Japansese quintet had, across the preceding 10 years, won over audiences across the globe with their lovely, playful take on everything psychedelic, ranging from krautrock over dream pop to leftfield folk music. Their five records still stand as an impressive statement of their active time, but it’s still sad to see such talent cease their operations. Well, today I’m here to share with you the joys of Dream of the Egg, the first solo work by erstwhile Kikagaku Moyo guitarist/vocalist Tomo Katsurada.
What we’re dealing with here is a 5-track release that draws from a mainly atmospheric, folk-y palette, going as far as to include some country-esque twang, drones, and stomping percussion without ever uprooting that dreamy undergrowth that Dream of the Egg exemplifies. Yes, it’s quite a psychedelic affair, just like Katsurada’s former exploits might suggest, but this is no mere KM clone.
With this album, Katsurada provides the soundtrack to a picture book based on the story of Yume no Tamago (literally ‘Dream of the Egg’ in Japanese), a children’s book from the 1920s. Said picture book was produced by Shoko Otake, making this an intriguing cross-cultural collaboration between Japanese artists. Aside from this connection, the project also serves as the first action of Katsurada’s new Future Days venture, a workshop and store dedicated to music, clothing, and art.
Across these five songs, Katsurada explores an instrumental sound that’s both timeless and heavily indebted to far-reaching ’70 explorations. His soft, wispy vocal performance lends itself well to the well-grounded yet feathery music he has composed. Dream of the Egg truly feels like the perfect musical drapery to throw over a story meant for children, as it allows the mind to drift through indulgent, fantastical daydreams in a way that would surely benefit the minds of a generation deep in the grasp of social media and outside world upheaval. Allowing our kids to dream outside of those confines is a mission Katsurada may not have intended to adopt, but he does carry it quite sensibly – intentional or not.
One spin of this record flies by like a cloud carried by gentle winds; as such, repeated spins may be necessary to grasp all details hidden within its lustrous songs. The core aesthetic remains unchanged throughout, which might be a complaint coming from anybody else, but I personally enjoy that facet of it quite a bit. From the opening “Moshimo” with its fuzzy guitar leads and plinking percussion (it almost feels like a lost Hisato Higuchi track in the way it carries itself) to the closing title track, Dream of the Egg remains stylistically coherent without feeling constricted by its premise. It’s given enough room to roam freely within set boundaries, so as to not become stale or overburdened.
Tomo Katsurada may be an artist breaking out on his own for the first time, but his past in Kikagaku Moyo is serving him well. Taking his previous experience as a cornerstone to build his own future upon, he deftly weaves songs that feel both airy and deeply rooted within the little mysteries of everyday life. Dream of the Egg is a wonderfully pensive record that carries enough calm and childlike wonder to illustrate its origins. Hopefully we won’t have to wait too long for more from Katsurada, as I found this first solo release of his to be an utter delight.
