Fantastic Plastic Machine (FPM)

Genre: Experimental / House / Nu-Jazz

Status: Major

Featured Track: Ain't No Mountain High Enough (FPM Remix)

Official URL: http://www.fpmnet.com

MySpace URL: http://www.myspace.com/fantasticplasticmachine

Fantastic Plastic Machine is Tomotuki Tanaka's solo experimental music project. Many of FPM's tracks follow the line of hip-hop / nu-jazz that has recently been cropping up around Tokyo in the years after 2000. The song I've picked to feature is one of his many great remixes. The remix of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" is a high energy House track that throws in catchy rhythms and slight vocals from the original song and puts them all together into something that so closely resembles, but is also worlds apart from the original song. Tanaka's original work explodes with funky rhythms, hip-hop, and nu-jazz elements. For those outside of Japan the easiest piece of FPM's work to access is his "Live From Tokyo" album, available exclusively through ITunes.

Most people I have introduced to artists such as Fantastic Plastic Machine point out the jazzy elements within the music and enjoy the blending of classical instruments and orchestral performances with dance bass lines. For those new to the idea of Nu-Jazz as a genre, Nu-Jazz is Jazz for the electronic genre and mixes in easily with hip-hop and house music alike. Domestically, there are only a few artists that are recognized in the realm of the Nu-Jazz genre. The lesser known, but more prominent Nu-Jazz artists is Fat Jon. The more well known is DJ Jazzy Jeff, who rose to fame with Will Smith as part of the DJ Jazzy Jeff and Fresh Prince duo from the late eighties. Some of DJ Jazzy Jeff's tracks have obvious Nu-Jazz influences and sounds. So go ahead, give Fantastic Plastic Machine and the Nu-Jazz genre a listen. If you like it, branch out into more artists and I'll be sure to cover some more in upcoming Discover_Music posts.