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October 23rd 2026
Vinyl
"The Arch" is the studio album by acclaimed composer and multi-instrumentalist Kaoru Watanabe. Released on September 18, 2026, through New Amsterdam Records in partnership with Figure 8 Recording, the 10-track project represents a personal and cathartic milestone that bridges ancient performance traditions with modern experimentation.
Developed over a year-long Open Residency at the Figure 8 Recording studio, The Arch was produced by Grammy-winner William Brittelle alongside executive producer Shahzad Ismaily. The project pushes Watanabe—a highly sought-after collaborator who has worked with artists like André 3000 and Yo-Yo Ma—to dig deep into his musical history and personal heritage.
The album's unique sonic landscape weaves traditional Japanese instrumentation into jazz improvisations and atmospheric electronic texturing. Watanabe personally performed all of the arrangements, contrasting the organic resonance of native flutes (shinobue, ryuteki, hichiriki), taiko drums, narimono percussion, and the koto zither against layered textures of piano, synthesizers, tenor saxophone, and harp.
Track list:
- The Arch
- Kazekaoru Gogatsu
- Whirlpools
- Hiraeth
- RUBICON
- Kitsune No Yomeiri
- Activities of Daily Living
- Kumo No Ito (The Spider's Thread) (feat. Yurie Ito)
- Wood Snake
- Unadorned
