Jeff Mills presents The Trip: The world’s first cosmic opera
What happens on the cosmic journey toward the black hole? What is on the other side of the black hole? Jeff Mills is set to explore these questions through a performance and an album release, that appeals to the auditory and visual senses.
“The Trip” began about leaving Planet Earth and searching the cosmos for a new location to live. Now, at 23 years later, we are entering a new chapter of the project where we encounter The Black Hole “Black Hole”. A black hole is a celestial object whose gravity is so strong that no information leaks out, so it was impossible to observe it, it was only a theoretical existence, but its location was identified for the first time in 2011. The latest research shows that it rotates on its axis. Black holes are physically contradictory entities that are difficult to imagine, but what Jeff Mills is trying to deal with in “The Trip” also overlaps with singularity, which is the beginning or possible end of time and space. Displayed in 5 theoretical scenarios of what could happen after entering through the Black Hole and exiting on the other side.
The provocative vocalist artist Jun Togawa was invited to participate by Jeff Mills as one of the highlights of this project. Among many talents such as acting and modelling, she is a trailblazing artist representing the Japanese new wave, and her emotional songs have an unparalleled impact and continue to break down generational barriers. She is one of the greatest influences on Japanese avant-garde music and media, and her career spans over 35 years.
Jeff Mills, fascinated by Jun’s unique way of singing as well as a commanding stage presence, approached her through the right channels and by the evening of the same day, Jun Togawa agreed and the lyrics had been written. The recording sessions of the collaborated songs which were conducted remotely between their locations in Japan and the US, went smoothly.
Two songs are “Contradiction” and “Hole”. For both songs, Jun added the vocals to the rhythm originally composed by Jeff Mills, and the final synth pad added by Shinichi Yamaguchi was edited by Jeff Mills.
On “Contradiction” (Long Radio Mix), he wanted to include a guitar similar to the style of rock and roll legend Bo Diddley, which is masterfully played by Kazuhide Yamaji of the current Yapoos.
Tracklist
A1. Jeff Mills – Entering The Black Hole
A2. Jeff Mills – Time In The Abstract
B1. Jeff Mills feat. Jun Togawa – Contradiction (Silent Shadow Mix)
B2. Jeff Mills – Wandering
C1. Jeff Mills – When Time Stops
C2. Jeff Mills – Time Reflective
D1. Jeff Mills – Infinite Redshift
D2. Jeff Mills feat. Jun Togawa – Hole
*This double LP is cut in reverse, plays inside out
