A Night Captured
The Live at Nakameguro EP documents a single evening performance at an intimate venue in Tokyo's Nakameguro neighbourhood. What began as a regular concert date became the source material for Kouki Sato's first live release — a four-track EP that captures the energy and spontaneity of performance in a way that studio recordings rarely can.
Track Listing
- Tobira (Door / Threshold) — 5:48
- Yoru no Shizuku (Night Droplets) — 12:03
- Improvisation in D — 6:21
- Meguri (Reprise) — 4:55
The Venue & Atmosphere
The venue seated fewer than eighty people, and the sound was captured using a combination of close microphones on the instruments and a pair of room microphones to preserve the ambient sound of the space. The result reflects the room as much as the music — you can hear the audience breathe, the occasional creak of a chair, the resonance of a low-ceilinged wooden space.
What Makes This Recording Special
The centrepiece of the EP is a live rendition of Yoru no Shizuku, the string quartet work that features prominently in Kouki's catalogue. The live version runs considerably longer than the composed version — Kouki introduced an extended improvised middle section on the night that was retained in full on the recording.
Track three, Improvisation in D, was entirely unscripted. It arose from a moment of silence between pieces and grew into a seven-minute solo piano piece that Kouki has described as one of the more honest things he has put on record.
Production Notes
The EP was mixed with care to preserve its live character. No overdubs were added. Minor edits were made only for pacing between tracks. The mastering was handled with a light touch to keep the dynamic range intact — this is a recording that rewards listening on good speakers or headphones.
Availability
The Live at Nakameguro EP is available on streaming platforms and as a high-resolution digital download (24-bit/96kHz WAV). A small run of vinyl copies was produced and distributed at subsequent live dates.