It has been said that architecture is like frozen music. Can the reverse be true? That seems to be the idea behind Tatemono (建物), a word which means building in Japanese, and the title of a new transcontinental collaboration between veteran ambient sound artists Tomoyoshi Date (Japan) and Stijn Hüwels (Belgium) for the LAAPS imprint. The fascinating concept behind the record is to explore different architectural elements of an imagined space through music from its exterior all the way to its upper structure.
The album embraces a similar kind of delicate lo-fi minimalism the duo displayed on their 2019 release hochu-ekki-tou, but with a different purpose now as they mold acoustic & organic sounds, digital processing, piano, and guitar into elegant sonic contours that echo architectural forms seen through the mind’s eye. Over five pieces of music, they slowly move from the facade to the door, through a corridor, out the window, and up to the roof. The attention to detail is meticulous while evoking a deep sense of stillness and serenity. Not unlike a well-designed building of the material world, Tatemono is a place listeners are likely to be drawn to and want to linger within.
Tatemono was released by LAAPS on July 9, 2026 in two hand-numbered limited editions – glass mastered CD and gold vinyl LP. The album was mastered by Stephan Mathieu and features artwork by Matthias Heiderich.
Links: https://laaps.bandcamp.com/album/tatemono
