REVIEWS OF "GLUED ON THIN MEMORIES" BY SABI

TheMilkfactory - 4.6/5
"The excellent Boltfish continues to deliver the goods with their latest release, the debut album by British-Japanese electronic artist Sabi, who has previously been spotted on Cactus Island Recordings with a first EP, Nebulous Sights, four years ago, and more recently on Phaseworks with 71:36, a split LP recorded with Kiyo. Sabi is the solo project of Taro Peter Little, a graphic designer who is currently studying music at the Tokyo University Of Arts.

Weaving together various strands of electronica into one rather lush collection, Little creates here a particularly beautiful record. Glued On Thin Memories is quite a varied album, and one that bears its many influences proudly, from Piano Phase-like Reich-ian influences on Halfspine and, to a lesser extend Mote Diver, to the Harold Budd-tinted title track or the Eno-infused Burning On A Tiny Black Lake or Melting Antennas and strong Orb-overtones of pieces such as Screaming Bulb, Signals Left or Music For Stones + Dore Cigales. This is a risky strategy, but one that pays off here. Indeed, while Little appears to leave his influences largely exposed, it is what he makes of them and how they integrate into his work that give this album its own identity. The music is evocative, with sumptuous melodic lines and built from lush soundscapes, and while he goes from particularly rich sonic feasts, propelled by sharp rhythmic sections, to much more atmospheric and, at times, minimal pieces, there is here a sense of direction and a strong focus on evolution binding this record together pretty seamlessly.

All the way through, Sabi works with beautiful organic pulsating soundscapes which give a number of tracks here a very aquatic feel. This is reinforced by the extreme fluidity with characterises much of the album progression as tracks are effortlessly blending in, independently of the mood of any individual piece. Instead of placing his compositions according to their tone or pace, Little adopts what seems at first a much more random approach, but this actually contributes to make Glued On Thin Memories a more unpredictable and organic record and denote a good level of maturity and understanding. This is not to say that there is no narrative running through. Quite the opposite in fact. Little continuously moves through areas of light and shade, placing expressive rhythmic pieces next to contemplative ambient sound forms and emotionally charged piano-led compositions to create a kaleidoscopic journey, which never really loses any of its appeal over its whole course.

With Glued On Thin Memories, Sabi has produced a pretty flawless electronic record, which relies heavily on timeless concepts and ideas to build a very effective collection of stunning electronic pieces"

Chroniques Electroniques
(translated from original French review)
"The artist who goes by the soft name of Sabi is a Japanese and British artist living in Tokyo. He has hitherto only released tracks on compilations or furtively appeared with EP's on well known labels like Merck or Cactus Island Recordings. We may also mention the album, 71:36, produced in collaboration with Kiyo. Murray Fisher (Mint) and Wil Bolton (Cheju), of Boltfish, leave him this time with a chance to publish his first solo album.

Actually called Taro Peter Little, he's an artist to be taken seriously. Leaning as much on the side of the beats/creeping IDM rhythms as towards the intoxicating paths of electronica, Sabi alternates between short formats and plethoric works by injecting interludes between them where his talents as a highly skilled pianist are obvious. Luminous and swarming with ideas, Glued On Thin Memories produces the effect of a the sun caressing your skin. Ideal, but not only for this summer period you might say. For a first album, to plough a rich and varied artistic furrow instead of an immediately identifiable path already constitutes a risk in itself. To then insert a more experimental facet while remaining accessible heightens the performance. You won't be surprised if I say to you that this album reaches that point.

Excellent tracks, like Halfspine, Mote Diver or Mano, are to be considered like small pearls for immediate purposes, contrasting with massive and complex works as Screaming Bulb (A masterpiece of IDM where the elements tumble in crescendo before reintroducing the hypnotic starting topic, then the machine sets out again…) or Music For Stones + Dore Cigales (where ambience, electronica and field recordings intermingle in a divine alchemy). Even in the light of such successes, you can't ignore a charming abstractly romantic track like Uki 4_7, immersing oneself in a luxuriant region where Fountains of Youth sit alongside rare birds. The adjoining tracks Burning On a Tiny Lake/Melting Antennas are also quite thrilling.

If Boltfish releases are too rare, they're always immensely surprising ones. With this rich and brilliant album, Sabi signals the best release from the label since Cheju's Broken Waves (here) and Yvat's Kunzite (here). A long time coming, I hope that it won't be ten years before the follow up album.

Norman Records - 4 stars
"Right. Like the title first & foremost. Slightly poetic resonance it has. The music is pretty cool as well, as can be expected from this quiet, respectable electronica "backwater". So Sabi does modern "IDM" that ranges from a melodic abstract style to dreamy ambient textures, disorientating spangled interludes, Woozy Merck style electro-hop, submerged hauntological/ chamber classical segments & lovely chill-out pieces filtered through with a sound-art perspective! Lashings of engaging full-blooded experimental music on here - richly textured cascading noises that create a kind of zen-like tropical vibe by about half way through. On a whole this recording works more as a resume of the artists multi faceted interests in the dynamics of sound rather than a straight electronica album with loads of samey sounding tunes (which is what I was expecting somehow!)"

Arrhythmiasound
Translated from original Russian Review
"Japanese-British musician and designer Taro Peter Little on idm scene for almost ten years: released several EPs, has appeared on various compilations, worked with other artists, but full-length album is not reached yet. His first album «Glued On Thin Memories» was hateful quintessence of his work. The sound varies from soft idm to ambient in a spirit Secede with small splashes of piano interludes. I'm not vain mentioned Secede, because some of the tracks caused me deja vu, for example, «Three Blind Queens In Cyan» obviously there is something of «Tryshasla», the same languid bass, elements of field recordings and some fantasy happening resemble beautiful country Sanda. In «Screaming Bulb» slightly guessed «Vega Libre», as well as felt analog flavor label. However, Sabi nevertheless find their original style, bringing more typical idm music elements. For example, the first track «Halfspine» is such a classic idm start 2000th: melodic, with a crunch and fancy beat. In «Mano» everything else we have heard a wonderful female vocals, which is perfectly placed on the electronics. Still, idm in this album is not the first place, Sabi focuses on soft ambient textures, space and depth. In general, the mood of the plate is very relaxing, especially the second half, your cares and worries just evaporate.

The real summer album, and in all respects other than the first LP was a success. The only thing that I am a little confused, because it is a meager artwork. Such music is worth more, in my opinion. If you missed idm era such as Toytronic, early albums Maps And Diagrams and Secede's «Tryshasla» you are always on repeat, the Sabi easily fit into your music now."