Kaito

If you like melodic techno, don’t miss this album. Kaito, aka Japanese producer Hiroshi Watanabe, lays down nine tracks of spacey grooves and hypnotic beats. It’s trance-y, but not "trance.” The tracks are all melody-driven, and are underpinned by simple drums and nearly unnoticeable bass lines. The best ones are "Natural Source,” "Nobody Could Be Alone” and "The Universe,” which combine a pulsating groove with great melodies. Once in a while, the constant melodiousness gets to be a little much, and it verges on easy listening, especially on tracks like "Holding A Baby” and "Life Goes On.” Blips like these make listening straight through a bit of a chore, if you are in the wrong mood. But if the DJs out there need something soaring to open or close a set, this could be your best option.