Zen

DJ Krush, DJ twigy Krush Featuring Aco | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 11, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Red Int / Red Ink
• ASIN: B00005MLVF
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #157,853 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #32 in Music > Indie Music > Dance & DJ > Trip-Hop
  • #42 in Music > Indie Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > Experimental

Track Listings

1. Song 1

2. Zen Approach

3. Danger Of Love

4. Sonic Traveler

5. Duck Chase

6. Vision Of Art

7. Day's End

8. With Grace

9. Candle Chant (A Tribute)

10. Endless Railway

11. Whut'z Da Solution

12. Paradise Bird Theory

Editorial Reviews

From URB Magazine

The 1999 Miles Davis tribute, Panthalassa: The Remixes, was a moment of truth. For each piece of industry hypethat designates a techno or hip-hop artist as "the next John Coltrane," there's a musician forced to contend with a legacy ill-suitedto their own worthy (if not always timeless) art. But while other Panthalassa remixers drove stakes through the heart of Miles' liveevil, DJ Krush managed to transport "Black Satin" into a serene hip-hop context without leaving a single smudge on its finish.

But that's not surprising. Japan's Krush is a hip-hop wonder twin seemingly capable of tag-teaming with anyone, from Milesand Kazufumi Kodama (on trumpet) or Mos Def to Zap Mama (on the mic). He can drop heavy solo instrumental records(Kakusei), but his ability to work a cohesive album out of individual collaborations - on Milight and now Zen - is unrivaled.Holding the project together is Zen's production: equal parts Permier's boom-bap and the Soulquarians' incensusal jazz tapping.Get aggro with the lead-pipe swang of Company Flow's "Vision of Art," smile while you're crying to the warbling guitar on"Candle Chant (A Tribute)," then lurk in instrumental psychedelic murk with ?uestlove on "Endless Railway." Krush's album hasall the controlled weight and organic intensity of a bonsai garden: the perfect balance of thick, heavy rhythmic roots with delicateleafy ambience. I won't succumb to the same hyperbole that got day-tripping-hoppers trying to outshine "In a Silent Way" andproclaim Krush another Miles Davis, but I will call him miles ahead.

Daniel Chamberlin

Product Description

His 2001 masterpiece is now available outside of Japan at nearly half the price! This Asian pressing features the same 12 tracks as the Japanese. Includes collaborations with Zap Mama on 'Danger Of Love', N'Dea Davenport on 'With Grace', Black Thought on --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars OUTSTANDING, November 6, 2002

By 

Achilleas (Athens, Greece) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zen (Audio CD)

When his previous LP came out, his first under the label of Sony, I was worried about Krush's potential loss of his musical integrity. On the contrary, he made an album so minimal, even his long lasting funs were surprised. I didnt particularly got hooked to this LP but I respected Krush for doing what he really wanted despite the pressure by his new financiers. That was then. NOW?

I think that ZEN is the outcome of him breaking the mold in the previous one. Krush is more mature now and he has made an exceptional album that will satisfy everyone. Hardcore hip hop funs, trip hop nodders, average mom and pap, in-love girls, trendy company CEOs, old time hippies, etc. It is the epitomy of a commercial album but without any of the negative conotations this definition might bring to mind. It incorporates soul, ambient, techno and industrial elements, mixed with the usual Japanese ultra minimalism, all together but also on their own. In Zen you can find maybe the most sentimental instrumental track in many years, a marriage between scattered guitar strings and saxophone, while the 3rd track is soulful trip hop at its best. Listen to the track no 7 and realise that Japanese raping can be as smooth as velvet, on a heavenly piano melody. Relax and enjoy, albums like this one dont come out too often.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A dream from Japan, August 8, 2003

By 

T. Michele (verona Italie) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zen (Audio CD)

Nippon trip-hop but not only. A real synphonia of music : sweet (Song 1, Sonic Traveler, With Grace) psychedelic (Endless Railway, Paradise Bird Theory) and the rest between the rap, funk, jazz. There is also a bonus track (the total songs are 13 and not 12) probably the less nice.
D.J. Krush made a big risk with a miscellaneus of sounds (infact people could be disoriented by the changes from a track to another) but the final result is perfect.
It's not a Cd to play single track, one you put on you have to finish it, it's like a classic synphonia!
Only with all songs togheter you can undrstand the total CD.
You can love it, dosen't mind with kind of music you are coming from...for sure you will love it..it's so sweet, so dark, so trip, so smart,..........so ZEN

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Smooth Grooves - a Highly Enjoyable Listen!, January 14, 2006

By 

Rich Latta (Austin, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zen (Audio CD)

The 5-star rating might be a little generous, but it's meant to reflect how worthy of purchase I think this CD is overall. I favor the more subdued, relaxing tunes. Some justifiably consider this release to be a bit inconsistent, but I also appreciate its diversity. Whatever you want to label this music - downtempo, acid jazz, hip hop - I don't think it fits easily into any particular category.

DJ Krush is especially effective at creating minimal soundscapes with subtle sophistication. Overall, this CD is laid-back and quite groove-worthy.

A few highlights (some impressions):

"Song 1" - very relaxing, kick-back hip-hop groove, very minimal with jazzy textures including a sweet trumpet.

"Zen Approach" - easy hip-hop funk beat with Black Thought from The Roots in full effect and shimmering background synths. Off the hook, baby!

"Danger of Love" - I'm a big Zap Mama fan and Marie Daulne (who IS Zap Mama) sings exquisitely on this smooth, catchy track. She also contributes some amazingly acrobatic vocals in the background, one of her most notable gifts.

"Sonic Traveler" - Starts off with background noises from a train station combined with subtle African rhythms and instruments before it launches off with a hyperkinetic drum machine. Actually employs bouncing ping pong balls as musical instruments - a fascinating instrumental!

"Vision of Art" - an ominous tone pervades over this spare track featuring an intense, ballsy rap performance.

"Day's End" - another very relaxing instrumental, similar to "Song 1" with a more "end-of-a-quiet-day" feel to it. Features more trumpet, a seductive acoustic guitar and that African instrument that I think is called a kora (?).

"Candle Chant (a Tribute)" - an amazing song, absolutely mesmerizing. Features a bizarre (to my ears) rap in an Asian language (that I assume is Japanese) and a hypnotic, crystalline acoustic guitar.

"Paradise Bird Theory" - has a very mysterious, dark and sensuous trip-hop sound.

Highly recommended, especially for chilling out.