Today, straight from France, I received an “express delivery” of a release that came out just hours ago. I couldn’t help but share my impressions, because “Midnight Coffee” by Tenpai is something that makes even a seasoned listener stop in their tracks. Having listened to thousands of tracks, I rarely encounter techniques that make me genuinely wonder “how did he do that?”, but Tenpai has succeeded.
Sound Architecture
“Midnight Coffee” can be compared to elite, perfectly polished jazz-hop. Every instrument here sounds crystal clear, creating a sophisticated nighttime mood. The piano plays very modestly, its keys seemingly just filling the air with atmosphere, while the saxophone adds elegance to the composition. But the main character here – believe it or not – is water.
Tenpai has masterfully used foley sounds, turning water droplets into a magical instrument. They fill the entire panorama of the track – that specific distribution of sound in space that makes you feel every splash in 3D. A persistent feeling arises as if you are drinking coffee not in a city cafe, but in a cozy spot inside a cave with stalactites. These drops have their own tonality, they build their own melody alongside the main instruments. And thanks to interesting acoustics and reverb, the rhythm of falling water complements the drums, acting as unconventional percussion.
Why Listen?
Personally, I think this track has every chance of becoming a favorite in editorial playlists. It is both an original experiment and an incredibly atmospheric piece of work. This is the most original sound of coziness I have heard recently. You can imagine a jazz band in a “cave” cafe or simply rain dripping from the roof of your country house – either way, “Midnight Coffee” grants that rare state of peace that we all hunt for in a world of endless noise.
If you enjoy music that immerses you in a state of deep Zen through minimalism, be sure to check out our review of Tove Tuesday’s work.
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