A three track EP by Ground, a DJ and producer based in Osaka, Japan.

He has released his debut album on ESP institute and other works on Jin, Multi Culti, SVS, Bokeh Version and his own label Chillmountain Rec.

Ozunu is a three-track single cut, including the title track, from an album released digitally on Chillmountain Rec last year in 2021.

Inspired by the old tales of South Osaka, the EP is full of twisty, acidic house, rickety percussion, psychedelic overdubs, and ridiculously fat bass. Chugging synthesizers and squidgy bass notes form a bright, meandering groove. More

JIN 03 EP presents a 4 track EP from Osaka's Ground. True to his unique soul that's reminiscent of a nomad, traversing the planet, befriending kindred spirits found in humans and various environments, this EP presents 4 pieces of unique grooves that ranges from the more euphoric vibe to both daytime & night time of a winter season surrounding a temple.

On A side "Osakacid" comes in two versions : A1 original version is a slow motion acidic tripper under the winter street of Osaka city lights. Long Flight Version features Mayuko, 1/2 of ambient, electronica duo Synth Sisters. Soothing melody layered with Ground's goofy acidic flavor compliments perfectly with each other.

B1 turns to the pure creative side of Ground. "Stone Bridge" is based on a local bridge that connects to a temple nearby his country side home outside of Osaka. Mystic and minimalistically punchy, this cut digs deep into the soulful side of Ground's ever nomadic approach. B2 comes in a complete shock: Ground's longtime friends in Thailand - Mogambo twists up "Stone Bridge" into a psychedelic, GOA fused floor shaker that takes you to an imaginary zone of raving inside the temple late into early morning. More

When the world slipped into madness last month, the ESP Institute put most releases on the back-burner to await brighter days, but then we thought again; why not approach these odd circumstances the way we do most realities, positively and head-on? We’re committed to a community that builds new worlds — this is fundamental to our creative and spiritual relationship with Osaka-born, cosmos-straggling artist, Ground — and while temporarily we can’t physically congregate to uplift each other, its our responsibility as an institution to maintain a platform for prolific creative pioneers, our cherished cartographers of cognitive escape. 'Wakusei' is wonderfully confusing and disorienting music, a follow-up EP to 2018’s critically acclaimed album 'Sunizm', not created specifically for life under lockdown, but nonetheless aptly suited to help release angst, guide meditation, and assist in making this moment in history more interesting if not transcendental. Whereas 'Sunizm' relied on field recordings gathered from rainforests, percussions learned from imaginary ancient civilizations, and the somehow organic freneticism of a mission control meltdown, the aesthetic of 'Wakusei' reduces this abstract instrumentation one step further to a more base-level array of gurgling synth scraps, accelerating engine friction and static-bound phonetic mistakes, all scrubbed into dust by a Brillo pad of white noise. The cliché of “great art is born out of hard times” is not lost upon us — of course the world will look back to this turmoil and its residual contributions to culture — but we see today's art as an immediate coping mechanism, and artists like Ground helping to unlock and navigate internal utopias. We’re already indoors, let’s delve inside. TRACK LISTING: A1. Wakusei A, A2. Wakusei Y (ft Sinkichi & Kabamix), B1. Hayabusa
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Ground is an Osaka native, but his soul is truly that of a nomad, traversing the planet, befriending kindred spirits found in humans, animals and plants. He is exceptionally receptive to the beauty in everything that surrounds him—the incidental music of a city street, the orchestral chaos of a scrambling radio, the syncopated grace of migrating birds, the simplicity of an isolated hand clap—and as his roadmap continuously unfolds, he accumulates a vast catalogue of visceral tools to musically recount his experiences. 'Sunizm' is a cross section of the artist’s process—an array of complex microcosms overlapping to comprise a thematic whole—gathering field recordings, found instruments, jagged electronics, synthesized chanting, and weaving all into a dense narrative that appears obsessively constructed yet divinely improvised. 'Follow Me', the second of two singles surrounding the album, is complimented with a pseudo drum’n’bass treatment by enigmatic Greek artist Jay Glass Dubs, as well as a massively triumphant b-side entitled 'Ozone House', which is exclusive to this single release. Attention all humans, animals and plants, Ground and the ESP Institute present, 'Sunizm'. More

Ground is an Osaka native, but his soul is truly that of a nomad, traversing the planet, befriending kindred spirits found in humans, animals and plants. He is exceptionally receptive to the beauty in everything that surrounds him—the incidental music of a city street, the orchestral chaos of a scrambling radio, the syncopated grace of migrating birds, the simplicity of an isolated hand clap—and as his roadmap continuously unfolds, he accumulates a vast catalogue of visceral tools to musically recount his experiences. Sunizm is a cross section of the artist’s process—an array of complex microcosms overlapping to comprise a thematic whole—gathering field recordings, found instruments, jagged electronics, synthesized chanting, and weaving all into a dense narrative that appears obsessively constructed yet divinely improvised. Logos is the first of two singles surrounding the album and is complimented with a monster remix by Bartellow (a fellow ESP artist, collaborator and good friend of Ground) as well as a secret weapon b-side entitled Discopazzle, which is exclusive to this single release. Attention all humans, animals and plants, Ground and the ESP Institute present, Sunizm. More

Ground is an Osaka native, but his soul is truly that of a nomad, traversing the planet, befriending the kindred spirits found in humans, animals and plants. He is exceptionally receptive to the beauty in all that surrounds him—the incidental music of a busy city street, the orchestrated chaos of a scrambling radio, the syncopated grace of a migrating flock of birds, the simplicity of an isolated hand clap—and as his map continuously unfolds, he accumulates a vast catalogue of visceral tools to complex musically recount his experiences. Sunizm is a cross section of the artist’s process—an array of complex microcosms overlapping to comprise a thematic whole—gathering field recordings, found instrumentation, jagged electronics, and synthesized chanting, to be woven into a dense narrative that appears both obsessively constructed and divinely improvised. With each consecutive track, the artist gradually constructs hypnotic patterns that 1-up the mind as it struggles to break free from a seduction of loops, steadily intensifying until reaching an apex of sound collage so cerebral that the listener might consider a post-album shower. But alas, the fourth quarter releases a bit of pressure, our gobs still lay smacked but there is a warm confidence as the psychedelic trial delivers us home to nod out. Dear humans, animals and plants, Ground and the ESP Institute present, Sunizm. More

Osaka based label Chillmountain's retrospective continues with Enjoy Your Self 3, as their deep, dubby and psychedelic electronic productions are examined and presented again on Especial's spin off label, Specials.

Star of both Chillmountain and now Especial (EES038 / EES042), Akio Nagase introduces possibly the stand-out track from the whole series with his Dub Techno meets Kalimba, Mbira Dub. A Basic Channel deep groove is twisted and mixed with pure Zimbabwe idiophone rhythm, the live Mbira bringing melody against bongos and cheeky repetitive vox for the ultimate dub house shuffle.

Label stars Akira Arasawa and Ground come together for a special one-off discoid beatdown. Acid bass, Fourth World samples, trippy fx and whistles'n' chants all lead to a psychedelic pot of chugging discoid heaven.

Akira Arasawa then goes solo with Dolphin, a driving club cut of wide and deep "proporpoises". His move from shamanic Psy-Trance to slower beats complete, creating a space inbetween of dub beats. A head down, basement joy.

Things slow to a Dancing Pikapika, as 'Tokyo to Berlin' based DJ, vocalist and producer Saeko Killy closes EP3. With a recent appearance on the ever-essential Sameheads club's compilation series and music upcoming with Sofa elsewhere (Emotional Response / Music From Memory), her closer is a leftfield, new wave turn of groovy, catchy, pop and acid bubbles. More

Especial Specials completes its series of releases with Osaka's
Chillmountain Recordings, again including label head Ground and friends to present a showcase of their music from 110 bpm Beatdown stomps to an uplifting collaboration with edit supremo Mori Ra, rising star Akira Arasawa to two perfect closing Balearic sunset jams.

Starting with Ground's Kaukiji. Inspired by local folklore of his hometown, this is an exemplary take on the quirky looped, locked acid house meets psychedelic live grooves their productions and DJ sets are known for. A wonky, wobbly, perky mix of house and tribal techno.

Following is a quirky detour with Ground teaming up with Japan's own edit whiz extraordinaire Mori Ra in a grooving, growing, whirl of floating kalimba, timbales, carnival whistles, rainforest squawks and shrieks, aptly titled Mountain Disco

Akira Arasawa returns for the finale with a twist, eschewing the dancefloor bombs this series has presented from a rising star for some a tantric, dubbed-out Balearic sonics.

Hutte Sound System then return. A project born in Osaka a decade ago, Ground first developing a studio craft with producer Absolute Time, naming the results after the location it was made - Hutte. Hutte Life In Future ios the results, a slice of slo-mo motorik that finds an anthemic funk.

Enjoy Your Self closes. Originally, released, as with all the music present in the series via Chillmountain's Bandcamp, on vinyl it is chopped from a long form ambient digi-swirl to be presented as a cheeky closing edit, a goodbye and arigato !! More

Especial Specials returns after a 4-year hiatus with another series of releases bringing previously digital only tracks to vinyl, this time teaming up with Osaka based Chillmountain Recordings.

Compiled with DJ, Producer and label head, Ground, the 4 EP series presents a best of / cross section of the releases to date, highlighting their leftfield, psychedelic, ambient, trippy-pop, cosmic cumbia and dance floor electronics.

Featuring a mix of known producers like Akio Nagase (Especial), Mori Ra (Macadam Mambo / Hivern Discs) and Ground (ESP Institute), with the soon in-demand Akira Arasawa, as well as the new wave pop of Killy, the Balearic anthems of Hutte Sound System and more, Enjoy Your Self is just that, an uplifting view of a label forging its own path.

EP1 starts with possibly the most dance-friendly track of the whole series, Arasawa showing his Trance background with a driving psychedelic meets discoid bang. O.R. follows with laidback breaks of the aptly titled Hammock Beats, before label head Ground teams up with Synth Sisters (EM Records) member MAYUKo for a 100bpm mid-tempo bongo-laden, trippy-chugger that is highly representative of the Chillmountain sound. To finish the first EP, Hutte Sound System (aka Absolute Time and Ground) present a perfect downtempo, Balearic closing that encapsulates a snapshot of the label. More

Emotional Especial comes together with Future Nuggets for a "Special" one-off collaboration. Reinterpreting the music of Steaua de Mare are four remixes from rising (Eastern) stars Khidja and Mehmet Aslan. The first in a short series of Especial "Specials" - where new artists are brought together for unique releases - we start by teaming up with Future Nuggets to present again the sonic offshoot in the unique band, Steaua de Mare. Returning in remix form, songs from their self-titled album, as well as extra additions, are specially reworked. First Khidja take album track Babadag to new psychedelic depths, adding multiple layers of guitar and synths, all inexhaustibly dubbed and re-dubbed until a whole new track emerges for the more discerning minds. Next Mehmet Aslan is focused on the dance-floor, carefully reconstructing new track Shop into a club orientated groove, aiming straight at the feet with inevitable results. On the flip, Mehmet then reworks album highlight, Doamne ce greseala am, amassing tension in careful, subtle ways, crafting a version that is a proper meeting of hearts and minds. To finish, Khidja return to remix the previously unreleased 1 Septembrie. Going to great lengths in managing a myriad of details, with balearic, kraut, pseudo-disco and exotica reverberations all pulsating, here then are on point examples of remix manipulation. A perfect way to start this series and showcase these wonderful artists. More

The limited Especial Specials continues with 4 remixes of Jaakko Eino Kalevi's Dreamzone EP. Featuring a heavy weight line up of Tom Noble, Heatsick, Peaking Lights and Vezurro, this is an all-bases-covered masterclass is taking Jaakko's pop leanings and giving them some boogie, dub and Italo sparkle. Hot on the heels of the Steaua de Mare Remixes comes 4 retakes of Jaakko Eino Kalevi's idiosyncratic pop stylings. Licensed from Weird World Records, this sees the multi-instrumentalist's original Dreamzone EP handed over for readjustment. The up, up boogie vibes of Tom Noble's calling card create his best remix to take. No Fun maybe Jaakko's 'ladies' love hymn, but with Tom's distinctive "never ending" bass and hats loops moving hips, a keys solo and vocal interplay ensure sublime perfection. Next Steven Warwick's superb Heatsick project implants his twisted casio-rawness in to Jaakko's world, marrying Memories ghostly vocals into a mix of afro-clipped beats and lo-fi melody that just fits. So happy to finally welcome in friends, family and inspiration, Peaking Lights in to the family. Aaron and Indra's uplifting dub love comes alive in this remix, with live bass grooves, vibing keys and Jaakko's unique vocal riding-a-riddim' all night long. To close up and coming Vezurro return to No Fun, providing an Italo love ode that can only move hearts into a true Rimini '84 summer affair. "Can't you see that I'm dancing?" More