Top tracks — play these first
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battlecry — The opening track sets the tone for the album with its dynamic fusion of rap and smooth instrumentals, establishing Nujabes' signature sound.
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aruarian dance — This track features ethereal melodies and intricate rhythms, encapsulating the serene yet complex nature of Nujabes' production style.
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genome — With a laid-back groove and introspective instrumentation, this track exemplifies Nujabes' ability to convey deep emotion through minimalist arrangements.
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stay — The incorporation of soulful vocals alongside jazzy samples creates a reflective atmosphere, highlighting themes of longing and presence.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's seamless blending of jazz and hip-hop creates a unique sound that resonates well within its genre.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of jazzy samples layered over laid-back hip-hop beats, creating a smooth and tranquil atmosphere.
- Tracks often blend seamlessly into one another, with many pieces featuring extended instrumental sections that emphasize mood over lyrical content.
- Several tracks incorporate vocal snippets or samples, but the focus remains on the instrumental arrangement rather than traditional song structures.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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9/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic emotional journeys
- long, immersive listening sessions
- atmospheric background focus
- wave-like pacing and flow
Where this album fits
- Career context
- When 'Departure' was released in 2004, Nujabes was cementing his status as a pioneer of Japanese hip-hop and instrumental music. This album followed his earlier work on the 'Samurai Champloo' anime series, showcasing his unique ability to fuse genres and influence a global audience. At this point, he had already gained significant recognition for his contributions to the series soundtrack, which further amplified his artistic reach.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 battlecry 3:20
- 2 the space between two world 4:39
- 3 aruarian dance 4:09
- 4 kujaku 6:59
- 5 mystline 4:47
- 6 1st.samurai 3:07
- 7 ole 3:27
- 8 624 part2 3:45
- 9 genome 3:35
- 10 no way back 3:18
- 11 funkin 3:36
- 12 stay 3:42
- 13 chambers 3:43
- 14 ask 3:18
- 15 how you feel 4:27
- 16 624 part1 2:41
- 17 四季ノ唄 5:00
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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