Kato Hideki - Hope Despair

live2evolve

Review by Rich Brown

Hope Despair by Kato Hideki: A Sonic Puzzle That Sticks With You Let’s talk about Hope Despair, an album that feels like wandering through a maze of broken mirrors. Released in 1996 on Extreme Records, this experimental electronic gem is the brainchild of Kato Hideki—a guy who seems to have poured his entire soul (and then some) into every track. The record dances between hope and despair, much like its title suggests, blending abstract soundscapes with moments so raw they almost feel alive. It’s not easy listening—it’s more like being dared to listen—but once it grabs hold of you, it doesn’t let go. One standout track for me has to be “Your Angry Face.” I dunno what it is about this one, but it hits different. Maybe it’s how the bass growls under layers of jagged guitar work, or maybe it’s just the vibe—like someone staring right at your insecurities without blinking. And then there’s Zeena Parkins’ harp floating in like a ghost trying to calm everything down. It’s unsettling yet beautiful, kinda like watching storm clouds roll in while the sun peeks through. Every time I hear it, I’m reminded of those days when anger mixes with sadness, leaving you unsure if you wanna scream or cry. That’s powerful stuff. Another track that stuck with me is “Song For A Scavenger.” Yeah, yeah, it shows up twice on the album—don’t ask me why—but both versions are hypnotic in their own way. There’s something haunting about the percussion, courtesy of Ogimi Gen and Tanaka Michiaki, paired with Kono Masahiko’s trombone wailing like a lost spirit. One version feels stripped-down, intimate even, while the other builds into this chaotic crescendo that leaves you breathless. It’s like two sides of the same coin—one quiet desperation, the other loud chaos. Honestly, it makes me think about survival, about picking scraps from life’s wreckage and finding meaning in the mess. The whole project feels deeply personal, almost obsessive. You can tell Hideki wasn’t just making music here; he was building worlds. From John Zorn’s piano solo on “Song For A Scavenger” to Tada Makio’s sampler wizardry on “Hope & Despair,” every detail matters. Even Robert Frank’s sleeve notes add another layer of intrigue, like reading cryptic poetry scribbled on the back of a napkin. What gets me most though? This album isn’t perfect—not even close. Some parts feel messy, disjointed, maybe even frustrating. But isn’t that kinda the point? Life ain’t polished either, and neither are our emotions. Listening to Hope Despair feels like flipping through old photos where half the pictures are blurry but still full of memories. So yeah, here’s the thing: after all these years, I still can’t decide if this album gives me hope or drags me deeper into despair. Maybe it does both. Either way, it lingers long after the last note fades. Kinda like that weird dream you had last night—you’re not sure what it meant, but damn, you can’t stop thinking about it.

Table of Contents

Download

Filename: kato-hideki-hope-despair.zip
  • MP3 size: 118.5 mb
  • FLAC size: 849 mb

Tracks

TrackDurationPreview
Song For a Scavenger5:20
Watching the Sleeping Lover4:34
Fatigue1:30
Tolerance2:18
Tale of a Snake6:0
Song For A Scavenger5:21
Double Dream6:3
Your Angry Face2:59
Against the Sky7:10
Hope & Despair4:55
Watching The Sleeping Lover4:34
Against The Sky7:08
Savage3:36
Tale Of A Snake6:00
Hope & Despair4:55

Video

Kato Hideki - Hope & Despair

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Catalog Numbers

XCD 036

Labels

Extreme

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Formats

  • CD
  • Album

Companies

RoleCompany
Marketed ByExtreme USA
Manufactured ByMusic Manufacturing Services
Copyright (c)Extreme
Phonographic Copyright (p)Extreme
Pressed ByDisque Americ
Recorded AtBaby Monster Studios
Mixed AtSpeed of Sound, New York, NY
Mastered AtFoothill Digital

Credits

RoleCredit
BassKato Hideki
GuitarKato Hideki
Slide GuitarKato Hideki
AngklungKato Hideki
Composed ByKato Hideki
CoverDoriana Corda
DesignDoriana Corda
DrumsDouglas Bowne
HarpZeena Parkins
Mastered ByAllan Tucker
PercussionOgimi Gen, Tanaka Michiaki
ProducerKato Hideki
Mixed ByKato Hideki
Concept ByKato Hideki
Recorded ByBryce Goggin, Kato Hideki
Text ByAnita Culp
TromboneKono Masahiko
ArtworkDoriana Corda
PianoJohn Zorn (tracks: 4), Terasaki Keitaro (tracks: 3)
SamplerTada Makio (tracks: 1)
Sleeve NotesRobert Frank
Written-ByAnita Culp

Notes

  • © & ℗ Extreme 1996.
  • Printed In Germany.
  • Made in Canada.
  • Made in Canada

Barcodes

  • Barcode (String): 786908903628
  • Barcode (Text): 7 86908 90362 8
  • Mastering SID Code: IFPI L482
  • Mould SID Code: IFPI 8119
  • Matrix / Runout: MUSIC MANUFACTURING SERVICES DISQUE AMERIC 0SEK2<0067>XCD036
  • SPARS Code: ADD
  • Barcode (Printed): 4 015790 003625
  • Barcode (Scanned): 4015790003625
  • Matrix / Runout: A0100186201-0101 15 A1
  • Other (Runout): DADC AUSTRIA
  • Mastering SID Code: IFPI L555
  • Mould SID Code: IFPI 94F4
  • Label Code: LC 6279
  • Other (SPARS code): ADD
  • Matrix / Runout (Mirrored): MUSIC MANUFACTURING SERVICES DISQUE AMERIC 0SEK2<0067>XCD036
  • Mastering SID Code (Mirrored): IFPI L482
  • Rights Society (Hideki): BMI

About Kato Hideki

Japanese musician and composer born 1962 in Nagoya.

Real Name

    • ʠפ˱ਹ (Katou Hideki)

Name Vars

  • HIdeki Kato
  • Hideki
  • Hideki Kato
  • Kato

Interesting fact about Album

Here’s something cool: Kato Hideki’s album *Hope Despair* is like a one-man powerhouse of creativity. Released in 1996, it blends experimental and abstract electronic music, but what makes it stand out is how hands-on Kato was. He didn’t just compose and produce the album—he also played bass, guitar, slide guitar, and even angklung, a traditional Indonesian instrument. It’s wild how one person can wear so many hats. Oh, and get this: John Zorn, a legendary avant-garde musician, added piano to one track, while photographer Robert Frank contributed sleeve notes. The whole project feels like a meeting point for artists from different worlds—music, art, and design—all coming together under Kato’s vision.