Yoyogi Park

Magical, mystical, and straight from the heart; following Until Then, Goodbye (2009) and A Day in the Life (MUSIQ 046CD/180LP, 2014), the Hamburg-based art curator, DJ, and producer Lawrence presents Yoyogi Park, the third part of an album trilogy for Mule Musiq in collaboration with artist Stefan Marx. The album explores the intersection of Lawrence's own ambient productions, acoustic sound experiments, and the driving force of the dance floor. The artwork shows a 360-degree view of Yoyogi Park in the heart of Tokyo, which Stefan Marx created for a fanzine for Printed Matter's NY Art Book Fair in 2015. Beyond the gorgeous greenery of Yoyogi Park lies craziness and mystery, and behind Lawrence's abstract beats and compelling functionality lies a magical full-color palette of mind-expanding sounds. Some of the tracks on Yoyogi Park contain live samples of Sky Walking (Lawrence's band with Christian Naujoks and RVDS) and some incorporate field recordings of streets and parks, while other tracks are versions of previously released, dreamily sublime ambient tracks. A one-of-a-kind blend of varied, deep, widescreen, and star-crossed electronica, romantic and enchanting. Lawrence's excellent recordings seduce with in-depth house rhythm sensibilities while spreading otherworldly melodies. Once again, he produced these vividly immersive tracks on the road. Some he started in his cozy backyard studio in Hamburg; he crafted others between cities like Berlin, Buenos Aires, New York City, and Tokyo. They all share some analog warmth while spreading mystery and allure, coming together to form a compelling whole. And although the album is made for the dance floor, its shimmering brilliance goes far beyond usual club music euphoria. Wonderful, compelling stuff that could be the perfect starting point for anyone interested in delving into Lawrence's unique world of intimate, subtly shifting grooves and tones -- an enchanting world where feelings unfold in rhythms and melodies.