Kaoru Inoue

SEEDS AND GROUND

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Kaoru Inoue

井上 薫 (Kaoru Inoue)

DJ、及び音楽プロデューサー。神奈川県出身。高校時代から20代前半までパンク~ロックバンドでのギタリスト経験を経て、1989年にアシッドジャズの洗礼とともにDJカルチャーへ没入する。1994年よりChari Chari名義で音楽制作も本格的にスタート。UKのレーベル、Pussyfootよりリリースを重ねる。真空管、MIX、BLUE、WEBなどの都内クラブで活動を続け、1999年Chari Chariとして、あらゆる音楽体験を昇華した1stアルバム『spring to summer』を発表。以降、リリース作品やリミックスは多岐に渡る。2002年にリリースされたChari Chariの2ndアルバム『in time』からのシングル・カット「Aurora」は、世界各国で20種以上のコンピレーション盤にライセンスされ、今でもクラブやラジオでプレイされる不滅のクラシックとなった。2003年より日本が誇るインディペンデント・レーベルCRUE-L内に、自身のレーベル“Seeds And Ground”を立ち上げ、「Aurora」制作時のパートナーであるDSKこと小島大介と共に、ミニマル・アコースティック・ギター・デュオAurora Acousticを結成、2004年秋デビュー・アルバム『FLARE』、2006年『Fjord』をリリース。本名Kaoru Inoueとしては初となるダンス・オリエンテッドなアルバム『The Dancer』を2005年夏にリリースした。その後、レーベルとして独立、2010年にKaoru Inoue名義で発表した『Sacred Days』以降、PCによるライヴセットもスタートした。またデビュー時期も近く、長年に渡りお互いに影響を与え合ってきたアーティストCALMの提唱による有機的UNITY=Cosmic Blessing Ensembleに参加。2013年にFuji Rock Festivalはじめ、4カ所の野外フェスでライブをおこなった。2014年、12年ぶりにChari Chari名義を復活させ、ライブ・バンドとして再生。さらに2016年にChari Chariとしては14年ぶりのアナログリリースとなる「Fading Away / Luna de Lobos」が大きな話題となった。2018年にはポルトガルのレーベル“Groovement”より、ダンスの狂騒から離れ、よりエレクトロニック〜アンビエントなどにフォーカスしたKaoru Inoue名義でのアルバム『Em Paz』をリリースした。2020年にはChari Chari名義での新アルバム『We hear the last decades dreaming』をリリース。辺境愛に満ちたオーガニックなエレクトロニック・サウンドが話題を呼んでいる。

Kaoru Inoue

Kaoru Inoue is a DJ and a music producer who runs a label called ‘Seeds And Ground’. Since high school to early 20s, throughout the experience of being a guitarist in puck rock bands, in 1989 he first came across with acid jazz and that led him to dive into a DJ culture.

He aspired to be a DJ around the 90′s, being fully active playing diverse music including Jazz, Afro, Brazil, Latin, Break Beats, House, Techno, and other genre in his own distinctive style at various clubs such as Shinkukan, Mix, Blue, Web in Tokyo.

Apart from DJing, he also does music producing and has established his own musical project called Chari Chari, producing many songs for independent labels, namely Pussyfoot owned by Howie B. and Emigration both at home and abroad.

In August 1999, Chari Chari’s 1st album, ‘spring to summer’ was released and received great reactions from both inside and outside of Japan, but especially from underground club music scene. This album was also released from the label, Ultima in Portugal in January 2001.

In Jan. 2002, Chari Chari’s 2nd album ’in time’ was released and it included timeless musical piece, ‘Aurora’ which was licensed to over 20 compilation albums around the world.

In 2003, he started his own label, ‘Seeds And Ground’ under a Japanese independent label, ‘Crue-l Records’. He formed a minimal acoustic guitar band ‘Aurora Acoustic’ with his production partner and also a guitarist, DSK aka Daisuke Oshima. He didn’t only played guitar but also introduced some electronics in the band. In autumn 2004, their debut album ‘Flare’ was released, followed by their 2nd album ‘Fjord’, released in 2006. In summer 2005, Kaoru Inoue produced a more dance oriented album ‘The Dancer’ under his real name.

Thereafter he started doing electronic music live set with laptop pc after releasing an album ‘Sacred Days’ in 2010. In 2013, he joined his old friend CALM’s mystical music band project named ‘Cosmic Blessing Ensemble’ and performed at outdoor music events such as Fuji Rock Festival.

In 2014, he revived his alias ‘Chari Chari’ as a live band, and in 2016, he released Chari Chari’s new EP ‘Fading Away / Luna de Lobos’ on vinyl. It was the first time for them to release in 14 years after the last release of ‘Aurora EP’, it gave rise to a huge buzz.

In 2018, he released an LP ‘Em Paz’ from a label ‘Groovement’ in Portugal. The LP is a celestial ambient album from the beginning to the end and it contributes a transformative and harmonious listening meditation to the audience.

After many years of working as a DJ and producer in the Japanese dance music scene, Kaoru Inoue finally has released a new album under ‘Chari Chari’ after 18 years, a collection of organic-electronic compositions filled with an exotic designs welling up in the middle of nowhere.

Even after his 30-year career, his sound is still radical, yet universal that bright up the scene.

 

KAORU INOUE Release

  • Isolated Audio Players 1 (pickin’ mushroom/JP) – compilation/1 track/Apr ’01
  • Banana Connection (Rambling/JP) – compilation/1 track/Dec ’02
  • Electric Brain feat. Astro boy (AMA/JP) – compilation/1 track/Apr ’03
  • Ten Remixes (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – CD album/10 tracks/June ’03
  • Two Punks, Three Indians (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – 12″/3 tracks/Jun ’04
  • On The Road c/w The Secret Edge (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – 12″/2 tracks/July ’05
  • The Dancer (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – CD album/13 tracks/July ’05
  • Keep On c/w The Dancer (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – 12″/4 tracks/Dec ’05
  • Slow Motion (RUSH! PRODUCTION/JP) – CD album/7 tracks/Mar ’06
  • The Secret Field c/w Todd Terje Remix (Mule Musiq/JP) – 12″/Nov ’07
  • The Whisperer In Germination (Nitelist/JP) – 12″/Nov ’08
  • Reformation (Apt./JP) – compilation/1 track/Dec ’08
  • The Definitive Japanese Scene vol.1 (Mule Musiq/JP) – compilation/1 track/Jan ’09
  • Esc c/w John Daly Remix (Mule Musiq/JP) – 12″/May ’09
  • Happenings (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – 12″/Nov ’09
  • The Invisible Eclipse feat. Jebski (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – 12″/June ’10
  • Sacred Days (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – CD album/Aug ’10
  • Ramafar (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – 12″/May ’12
  • A Missing Myth (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – CD album/Sep ’12
  • A Missing Myth Of The Future (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – LP vinyl/Mar ’13
  • Y-3 10 Year Anniversary  Compilation (Y-3/DE) – compilation/1 track/Sep ’13
  • Etenraku – Quantonic Remix (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – 12″/Jan ’14
  • Em Paz (Groovement Organic Series/PT) – LP/Mar ’18
  • Em Paz [CD] (P-VINE/JP) – CD/Jun ’18

CHARI CHARI Release

  • Listen Up (Universal Ape/JP) – compilation/1 track/’94
  • Pussy Galore (Pussy Foot/UK) – compilation/1 track/’96
  • Turn the Knob (Por Supuesto/JP) – compilation/1 track/’96
  • Fish Smell Like Cat (Pussy Foot/UK) – compilation/4 tracks/’97
  • Have Some More Java? (Emigration/JP, Pussy Foot/UK) – compilation/2 tracks/’97
  • Suck it & See (Pussy Foot/UK, Palm Pictures/US) – compilation/1 track/’98
  • Blue Black (Emigration/JP) – compilation/1 track/’98
  • Keep on Flowin’ EP (File/JP) – 12″/4 tracks/’98
  • Across the Universe (File/JP) – 12″/3 versions & Frankie Valentine’s remix/’99
  • Spring to Summer (File/JP) – CD album/12 tracks/’99
  • Bossa Tres …Jazz (Yellow Productions/FR) – compilation/1 track/’99
  • Spring to Summer EP1 (File/JP) – 12″/3 tracks & Spacer remix/’99
  • Tribute to Godzilla Millenium 2000 (Triad/JP) – compilation/1 track/’99
  • Tokyo Tech Breakbeats 2 (NS-com/JP) – compilation/1 track/’99
  • Temple of Dub (Speedstar/JP) – compilation/1 track/’99
  • Spring to Summer EP2 (File/JP) – 12″/3 tracks & Frederic Galliano remix/’99
  • Response (File/JP) – remix CDEP/’99
  • Returning the Sun (Lastrum/JP) – compilation/1 track/July ’00
  • Black Shrine EP (bonjour/JP) – 12″/4 tracks/Aug ’00
  • The Armchair Traveller (Speed Star/JP) – compilation/1 track/’01
  • Flow Dub (Ultima/PT) – CD album/Dec ’01
  • in time (Toy’s Factory/JP) – CD album/12 tracks/Jan ’02
  • Aurora EP (bonjour/JP) – 12″/3 tracks/Mar ’02
  • Aurora2004 (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – 12′/3 tracks/Jun ’04
  • SNAKER002 (Snaker/JP) – LP vinyl/Mar ’13
  • Fading Away/Luna de Lobos (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – 12′/3 tracks/Sep ’16
  • We hear the last decades dreaming (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – CD/Digital /12 tracks/Jul ’20

AURORA ACOUSTIC Release

  • Felicidade (TOSHIBA EMI/JP) – compilation/1 track/Sep ’03
  • Ground Art Rocks c/w Dancarino Da Estrela (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – 12″/4 tracks/Nov ’03
  • Hotel Sunset (SONY/JP) – compilation/1 track/July ’04
  • Flare (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – CD album/10 tracks/Sep ’04
  • FLY from EAST (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – 12″/3 tracks/Dec ’05
  • Fjord (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – CD album/12 tracks/Mar ’06
  • Feast (Moderate Recording/JP) – CD album/11 tracks/Sep ’07
  • Harmony of the Spheres (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – CD album/Oct ’12
  • The Light Chronicles (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – CD album/Oct ’12
  • Aurora Acoustic vs CitiZen of Peace (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – 12″/Jan ’14

Mix CD

  • Rhythm in Progression (P-VINE/JP) – ’00
  • groundrhythm (Toy’s Factory/JP) – Sep ’02
  • ageHa vol.5 mixed by Kaoru Inoue (GATE/JP) – Nov ’04
  • Strictly Rockers Revenge Chapter 15 (El Quango/JP) – Apr ’06
  • groundrhythm 2 (RUSH! PRODUCTION/JP) – Nov ’06
  • Floatribe (Rambling/RBCS-2274/JP) – July ’08
  • Summer Rain (Grand Gallery/GRGA-0097/JP) – Sep ’10
  • Gifts of Unknown Prayers/Dancers of Unknown Pleasures (EN/JP) – July ’11
  • In Your Lucid Dreams (BPM Therapy/JP) – June ’13

OTHER Release

  • Emigration Disco Classics (Emigration/JP) – compilation/1 track/’98 [BOOGIE LANKA SOUND AIRWAYS]
  • Suck it & See (Pussy Foot/UK, Palm Pictures/US) – compilation/1 track/’98 [CHARI CHARI CHARI]
  • Samurai Era (bonjour/JP) – compile, produce/’99
  • Child-Food (bonjour/JP) – compilation/1track/’00 [CHARI CHARI CHARI]
  • Gradation ∴ Transition (IRMA/IT, King International/JP) – compile/’01
  • Shibuya Jazz Classics/King issue (Solid/JP) – compile/Mar ’03
  • Trip to the World/Virgin 30th Anniv. compilation (Virgin/JP) – compile/June ’03
  • Elements (Final Drop Entertainment/JP) – CD & DVD/July ’03 [Final Drop]
  • SAG VOYAGE 2006 (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – compile/Oct ’06
  • Seeds And Ground (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – compile/Mar ’08
  • Massage Nonmix (LD&K/LDCD-50056/JP) – compile/Apr ’09

Remix

  • HARVEST/Good Day (WEA/JP) – remix/’98
  • MIO/Little Mermaid (Epic Sony/JP) – remix/’99
  • PORT OF NOTES/You Gave Me A Love (Crue-L/JP) – remix/’99
  • LOBI TRAORE/Koroduga (Frikyiwa/FR) – remix/’99
  • FEMI KUTI/Blackman Know Yourself (Polydor/JP) – remix/april ’00
  • SILENT POETS/Sugar Man (Toy’s Factory/JP) – remix/may ’00
  • BONNIE PINK/Reason (EastWest/JP) – remix/june ’00
  • ARTO LINDSAY/Ondina (AVEX/JP) – remix/’00
  • RIP SLYME/Underline No.5 (FILE/JP) – remix/july ’00
  • X.VALDEZ/Polite Endeavour (Toy’s Factory/JP) – remix w/Silent Poets/nov ’00
  • BEBEL GILBERTO/Tanto Tempo (King International/JP) – remix/’00
  • K./Echo (Cutting Edge/JP) – sound produce, remix/feb ’01
  • SOFT/Art Farmar (COMMA/JP) – remix/sep ’01
  • OOIOO/Mountain Book (Polystar/JP) – remix/sep ’01
  • Miyazawa Kazufumi / Uchinah ni Furu Yuki(EMI/JP) – remix/nov ’01
  • Suger Soul / いいよ (WEA/JP) – remix/may ’02
  • Baffaro Daughter / Discotheque Du Paradis (EMI/JP) – remix/Jul ’02
  • NXS / Chamber (COMMA/JP)- remix/’02
  • Crue-l Grand Orchestra / L’ete, Palma (Crue-L/JP) – remix/Jul ’02
  • Flex Life /Yume wo Shitaite (ZETIMA/JP) – remix /Feb ’02
  • Frankie Valentine/Moog Rock (Sunshine Enterprises/AT) – remix/Jun ’03
  • Calm/Pharoah (Music Conception/JP) – remix/Apr ’03
  • Suite Chic/Signs of Life (AVEX/JP) – remix/Mar ’03
  • NIRGILIS/Mayonaka no Shunaidar (Chukuri/JP) – remix/Sep ’03
  • bayaka/An Illusive Shadow (ODE/JP) – remix/Sep ’03
  • Kahimi Karie/Free Line (VICTOR/JP) – remix/Mar ’04
  • Spikewave/Inspiration Information (CRUE-L/JP) – remix/’05
  • GoRo/Dub Shanti (Tri-Eight/JP) – remix/’05
  • Gabby & Lopez/Drive From The Miracle (FARLOVE/JP) – remix/Aug ’06
  • KiLA/Glanfaidh Mé (Plankton/JP) – remix/Sep ’06
  • Special Others/Saudade (Victor/JP) – remix/’06
  • Ngoma/Over The Over (Sonimage Lab/JP) – remix/’07
  • Dachambo/サルビア・オリビア(Jet Set/JP) – remix/’08
  • Tommy Guerrero/By Fist and Fury (Rush Production/JP) – remix/’09
  • Jebski & Yogurt/Another Gravity (Rose/JP) – remix/’09
  • G.Mitchell & Jebski feat. Kengo Ono/Natsu (PAD/JP) – May ’11
  • Hiroshi Watanabe/Isolated Soul (Undertone/JP) – ’11
  • The Backwoods/Flying Bugz (Ene/JP) – ’11
  • Hideo Shiraki/Sayonara Blues (King/JP) – ’11
  • CitiZen of Peace/Skyboat (Lifetime Boogie/JP) – ’13
  • Pepe California/Precious Ghost (Pepe California/JP) – ’14