THE MELTING HOURS — The Melting Hours

The Melting Hours – THE MELTING HOURS Beyond Space & Time’s latest 12-inch offering, catalogue BEST004, arrives as a debut compilation from the live project The Melting Hours, a collaboration between Wata Igarashi and Kuniyuki. Framed by the label’s lineage of forward-thinking electronic releases, this record unites ambient-tinged electronica, beats-driven house and pop-inflected textures, positioning it as a bridge between introspective listening and dancefloor propulsion. Within the Beyond Space & Time catalogue, THE MELTING HOURS follows the earlier imprint release DJ NOBU PRESENTS: BEYOND SPACE AND TIME 001 (BEST001, 2019). While the label’s output remains concise, this new entry expands its aesthetic scope, bringing the improvisational chemistry of two respected Sapporo figures into a vinyl format that highlights both studio reconstruction and live capture. Side A opens with “blue sun”. The track, reconstructed from rehearsal tapes, carries a freshness that recalls the spacious ambience of classic ECM and Windham Hill recordings. Its melodic contour offers a luminous backdrop that can serve as a warm-up layer in a set, inviting gradual build-up without demanding immediate peak energy. The second cut on the side, “liquid dunes”, extends beyond ten minutes and weaves organic tones—flute and percussive gestures—into an evolving abstract texture. The length and unfolding structure make it suitable for deep-tech or ambient-house moments, where a DJ can let the piece breathe and shape the room’s atmosphere. Flipping to side B, “cloud touch” awakens with a vortex of pulsating downbeats and arpeggiated movement, derived from live material recorded at Draaimolen 2025. The track’s kinetic thrust provides a natural climax after the meditative journey of the A-side, offering a rhythmic anchor that can be mixed into peak-time house or used as a transitional surge in a more eclectic set. The Melting Hours project draws on the long-standing mutual respect between its two creators. Igarashi, noted for a continuing impact on techno history, and Kuniyuki, hailed as a Sapporo treasure, first intersected at Draaimolen Festival 2025. Their shared improvisational ethos translates into a recording that feels both spontaneous and meticulously shaped, echoing the live energy described from a 2026 Rainbow Disco Club event where the duo performed beneath clear skies and fresh greenery. The record captures that organic breath, preserving the fleeting moments that define their collaboration. For DJs, the release offers a versatile toolkit. “blue sun” works as a spacious intro or a melodic interlude, “liquid dunes” supplies a deep, evolving groove for late-night or after-hours sets, and “cloud touch” delivers a dynamic surge ideal for building momentum on the dancefloor. Collectors will appreciate the synthesis of studio reconstruction and live performance, a rare insight into the duo’s process, and the way the vinyl format preserves the tactile nuance of the improvisational sessions. The record is pressed as a 12-inch vinyl, presenting the three tracks across both sides in a format that respects the intended flow from ambient opening to rhythmic climax. The analog medium reinforces the organic textures and subtle dynamics that define the project. The Melting Hours – THE MELTING HOURS, Beyond Space & Time, catalogue BEST004, 12-inch vinyl, three tracks. Tracklist: A1. The Melting Hours – blue sun A2. The Melting Hours – liquid dunes B1. The Melting Hours – cloud touch