Circuit On The Moon by DJ Shinkawa: A Wild Ride Through '90s Japanese Electronica
Alright, let’s talk about Circuit On The Moon, the 1997 gem from DJ Shinkawa. If you’re into Hard Trance or Hard House, this one might just slap harder than your morning coffee. Released under Paratone in Japan, it’s got that raw, unfiltered energy of the late ‘90s electronic scene—like someone took a spaceship full of beats and crash-landed it on the moon. And hey, with credits like N.Honzawa co-producing, mixing, engineering (and probably bringing snacks to the studio), it’s clear this album was crafted with love.
Now, I gotta say, not every track hits the same way, but two tracks stuck out to me like glowsticks in a dark club: “Paragon” and “Ball Of Dragon.”
“Paragon” kicks things off with this relentless beat that feels like running through Tokyo at midnight—fast, chaotic, but kinda beautiful if you stop thinking too hard. It’s got this driving synth line that drills into your brain and doesn’t let go. Honestly, I kept humming it for days after listening. Not sure whether to thank or blame DJ Shinkawa for that earworm!
Then there’s “Ball Of Dragon,” which is just… wild. The name alone sounds like something straight out of an anime plot twist, right? But musically, it’s all over the place in the best way possible. Pulsing basslines mix with these sharp, almost glitchy effects—it’s like the soundtrack to a cyberpunk dragon fight. No lie, I imagined myself as some futuristic warrior while blasting this on repeat. Over-the-top? Maybe. Awesome? Absolutely.
What makes Circuit On The Moon stand out is how unhinged yet deliberate it feels. You can tell DJ Shinkawa wasn’t trying to play it safe here. This isn’t background music; it’s front-and-center stuff that demands your attention. Sure, some moments feel a bit rough around the edges, but that’s part of its charm. It’s less polished marble and more gritty street art—raw, real, and unforgettable.
Looking back, it’s kinda crazy to think this came out in ‘97. Back then, people were still figuring out what electronic music could be, and albums like this pushed boundaries without even blinking. It’s like DJ Shinkawa said, “Let’s throw everything at the wall and see what sticks,” and somehow, most of it did.
Oh, fun fact—or maybe not-so-fun depending on how you look at it—I listened to this album during a thunderstorm, and holy crap, it elevated the whole vibe. Like, lightning strikes synced perfectly with the drops in “Moon Circuit.” Coincidence? Probably. Still cool though.
So yeah, Circuit On The Moon isn’t gonna be everyone’s cup of sake. But if you dig high-energy electronica with a dash of Japanese flair, give it a shot. Just don’t blame me if you start hearing dragons in your headphones.
2曲分
後半の変速で繋げれないのも、2枚買いして1→2ミックスして次の曲へ。
当時はタイミング逃すともう手に入らないので2枚持ってる優越感。