¨The sea has long been central to Japanese culture, symbolizing both sustenance and spiritual depth. Charles A.D.’s Deep Diver draws inspiration from this, channeling the ancient traditions of diving and fishing into his music. In Deep Diver, this reverence flows through aquatic soundscapes, where rhythmic waves of 90s house and Detroit techno meet minimal production techniques. Like the tides, the album ebbs and flows, creating a serene yet dynamic listening experience.

‘Boundary’ opens the descent with heavy, resonant chords and a deep, bouncing bassline. Echoes swell and recede like tidal forces, pulling the listener deeper into the groove, with a melodic chord that shines through like sunlight breaking through the ocean. ‘Surfacing’ takes on an abstract design, where sounds swirl, simulating the rise of bubbles to the water’s surface. The melodies ebb and flow, evoking the sensation of waves rolling gently over the ocean’s edge. As the album progresses into ‘Bubble Ring’, Hiroyuki Tanaka’s influence becomes apparent, with watery textures building a rhythmic, hypnotic flow. ‘Deep Sea Exploration’ channels the force of ocean currents, with analog bass notes submerged beneath aquatic filters. The track’s propulsion mirrors the unstoppable nature of fast oceanic streams, carrying the listener into unknown depths. ‘Abyss Light’ presents a standout production with fluid rhythms and swelling, emotive melodies that surge with delicate release, like light gently flickering through the darkest ocean trenches. Lastly, ‘Traitors’ delves even deeper into dub-inspired territory. Deep, resonant bass hits combine with wooden drums, while static-like sounds evoke the image of a radio tuning through static to find clarity.

Charles A.D. is a master of minimalism. The simplicity of the composition is deceptive, as each element carries weight, drawing the listener deeper into the rhythm and space between the notes. Throughout Deep Diver, the aquatic theme is woven into each layer of sound. Tanaka’s production is both powerful and fluid, creating distinct moods that flow seamlessly, capturing the mysterious, ever-shifting nature of the ocean.¨