Kaoru Inoue
井上 薫 (Kaoru Inoue)
DJ/プロデューサー。神奈川県出身。高校時代より20代前半までパンク〜ロック・バンドでのギタリスト経験を経て、Acid Jazzの洗礼からDJカルチャーに没入する。同時期に民族音楽探究に目覚め、バリ島やジャワ島へ頻繁に旅立つ。都内の小箱クラブの平日レギュラーを務めながら、94年より”chari chari”名義で音楽制作をスタート、UKの”PUSSYFOOT”からリリースを重ねる。
“真空管”、”MIX”、”BLUE”、”WEB”などの都内クラブで活動を続け、ハウス・ミュージックに傾倒していく中、”chari chari”としてリリースした2枚のアルバム『spring to summer』(’99/File)、『in time』(’02/Toy’s Factory)は日本のみならず世界でも高い評価を得た。『in time』からカットされた「Aurora」は世界中の様々なミックスCDやコンピレーションに収録され、もはやクラシックスに。以降、リリース作品、リミックス制作は多岐に渡る。
’03年、日本が誇るインディペンデント・レーベル”CRUE-L”内に、自身のレーベル”SEEDS AND GROUND”を立ち上げ、「Aurora」制作時のパートナーであるDSKこと小島大介と共に、ギター・インスト・ユニット”Aurora”を結成、’04年秋デビュー・アルバム『FLARE』(SAGCD005)、’06年『Fjord』(SAGCD010)をリリース。本名”Kaoru Inoue”としては初となるダンス・オリエンテッドなアルバム『The Dancer』(SAGCD007)を’05年夏にリリースした。以降の主なリリースは’10年の”Kaoru Inoue”『Sacred Days』(SAGCD020)。レーベルは’08年に独立し、マイペースに活動中。
現在、独特のスタンスと審美眼から紡がれるDJスタイルが好評のレギュラーパーティ”groundrhythm”@ AIRを拠点に活躍中。また小島大介との”Aurora”は”Aurora Acoustic”と改名、ミニマルなアコースティック・ギター・デュオ・スタイルが好評を博し、様々な空間でのライブ活動を展開している。
Kaoru Inoue aka Chari Chari
Kaoru Inoue aspired to be a DJ around the Nineties, being fully active playing diverse music such as House, Afro,Brazil, Latin, Break Beats, Jazz, Techno, etc, in his own distinctive style at various clubs in Tokyo. Apart from DJing, he also was producing songs and participated in a compilation album called ‘LISTEN UP’ (released from Universal Ape) in 1994. Taking advantage of this, he started his own musical project, CHARI CHARI. After his first opportunity of releasing his own production, he produced many songs for independent labels such as the UK label, PUSSYFOOT owned by HOWIE B. and EMIGRATION both at home and abroad as well as doing many remixes for these labels. In August1999, his first solo album, ‘SPRING TO SUMMER’ was released by File Records and received great reaction from inside and outside Japan specially from underground club music scene.
This album was also released from the label, ULTIMA in Portugal to the world in January 2001.At the moment, he is participating in various kinds of parties around the world as a guest DJ and also producing songs for compilations such as ‘BOSSA TRES JAZZ…’(YELLOW PRODUCTION in France) as well as doing remixes for many artists in the world for instance, Femi Kuti, NXS, Crue-l Grand Orchestra, OOIOO, Frankie Valentine, Soft, Buffalo Daughter, Calm, Port Of Notes , Arto Lindsay, Bebel Gilbert to name a few. In Jan. 2002, his 2nd album,’in time’ was released from Toy’s Factory Records in Japan. This album included the big hit song called ‘Aurora’ which was also featured recently on Deep & Sexy 2 mixed and compiled by Ron Trent released by Wave Music. This song was also supported by many DJs (Francois K., Danny Krivit, Joe Clausell, Jazzanova, etc.) from around the world.
In 2003, he started his own label called ‘Seeds and Ground’ under the Japanese independent label, ‘Crue-l Records’. He forms a band called Aurora with his production partner, DSK aka Daisuke Kojima. In this band, he plays guitar and in fall 2004, released their debut album, ‘Flare’ (SAGCD005). In summer 2005, with his real name, Kaoru Inoue, he produced a more dance oriented album which was a first for him called ‘The Dancer’ (SAGCD007).
In March 2006, he releases under his own name, a very ambient-style in abundance, an album called ‘Slow Motion’ (ACCR10049) from the label, Rush! Production as well as another album with Aurora called ‘Fjord’ (SAGCD010) from seedsandground around the same period. He put out the mix CD titled “groundrhythm2″ in late 2006. Right now, he is producing the 3rd chari chari album as well as getting ready a Seeds and Ground label compilation.
Kaoru Inoue periodically DJs as well. Holding residencies at Club Air for a regular party called ‘groundrhythm’ and at Unit called ‘FLOATRIBE’. He regular DJs at a cross section of places whether it be inside or out. And recently, has been regularly playing live with his group, Aurora and a progressive live session band called ‘Floatribe Live Session’.
KAORU INOUE Release
AURORA ACOUSTIC Release
- Felicidade (TOSHIBA EMI/JP) – compilation/1 track/Sep ’03
- Ground Art Rocks c/w Dancarino Da Estrela (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – 12′/4 tracks/Nov ’03
- Hotel Sunset (SONY/JP) – compilation/1track/July ’04
- Flare (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – CD album/10 tracks/Sep ’04
- FLY from EAST
(SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – 12′/3 tracks/Dec ’05 - Fjord (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – CD album/12 tracks/Mar ’06
- Feast (Moderate Recording/JP) – CD album/11 tracks/Sep ’07
CHARI CHARI Release
- Listen Up (Universal Ape/JP) – compilation/1 track/’94
- Pussy Galore (Pussy Foot/UK Universal/JP) – compilation/1 track/’96
- Turn the Knob (Por Supuesto/JP) – compilation/1 track/’96
- Fish Smell Like Cat (Pussy Foot/UK Universal/JP) – compilation/4 tracks/’97
- Have Some More Java? (Emigration/JP Pussy Foot/UK) – compilation/2 tracks/’97
- Suck it & See (Pussy Foot/UK Palm Pictures/US Universal/JP) – compilation/1 track/’98
- Blue Black (Emigration/JP) – compilation/1 track/’98
- Keep on Flowin’ EP (File/JP) – 12′/4 tracks/’98
- Across the Universe (File/JP) – 12′/3 versions & Frankie Valentine’s remix/’99
- Spring to Summer (File/JP) – CD album/12 tracks/’99
- Bossa Tres …Jazz (Yellow Productions/FR) – compilation/1 track/’99
- Spring to Summer EP1 (File/JP) – 12′/3 tracks & Spacer remix/’99
- Tribute to Godzilla Millenium 2000 (Triad/JP) – compilation/1 track/’99
- Tokyo Tech Breakbeats 2 (NS-com/JP) – compilation/1 track/’99
- Temple of Dub (Speedstar/JP) – compilation/1 track/’99
- Spring to Summer EP2 (File/JP) – 12′/3 tracks & Frederic Galliano remix/’99
- Response (File/JP) – remix CDEP/’99
- Returning the Sun (Lastrum/JP) – compilation/1 track/July ’00
- Black Shrine EP (bonjour/JP) – 12′/4 tracks/Aug ’00
- The Armchair Traveller (Speed Star/JP) – compilation/1 track/’01
- in time (Toy’s Factory/JP) – CD album/12 tracks/Jan ’02
- Aurora EP (bonjour/JP) – 12′/3 tracks/Mar ’02
- Aurora2004 (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – 12′/3tracks/Jun ’04
Mix CD
- Rhythm in Progression (P-VINE/JP) – ’00
- groundrhythm (Toy’s Factory/JP) – Sep ’02
- ageHa vol.5 mixed by Kaoru Inoue (GATE/JP) – Nov ’04
- Strictly Rockers Revenge Chapter 15 (El Quango/JP) – Apr ’06
- groundrhythm 2 (RUSH! PRODUCTION/JP) – Nov ’06
- Floatribe (Rambling/RBCS-2274/JP) – July ’08
- Summer Rain (Grand Gallery/GRGA-0097/JP) – Sep ’10
- Gifts of Unknown Prayers/Dancers of Unknown Pleasures (EN/JP) – July ’11
OTHER Release
- Emigration Disco Classics (Emigration/JP) – compilation/1 track/’98 [BOOGIE LANKA SOUND AIRWAYS]
- Suck it & See (Pussy Foot/UK Palm Pictures/US Universal/JP) – compilation/1 track/’98 [CHARI CHARI CHARI]
- Samurai Era (bonjour/JP) – compile, produce/’99
- Child-Food (bonjour/JP) – compilation/1track/’00 [CHARI CHARI CHARI]
- Gradation ∴ Transition (IRMA Italy/King International JP) – compile/’01
- Shibuya Jazz Classics/King issue (Solid) – compile/Mar ’03
- Trip to the World/Virgin 30th Anniv. compilation (Virgin/JP) – compile/June ’03
- Elements (Final Drop Entertainment/JP) – CD & DVD/July ’03 [Final Drop]
- SAG VOYAGE 2006 (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – compile/Oct ’06
- Seeds And Ground (SEEDS AND GROUND/JP) – compile/Mar ’08
- Massage Nonmix (LD&K/LDCD-50056/JP) – compile/Apr ’09
Remix
- HARVEST/Good Day (WEA/JP) – remix/’98
- MIO/Little Mermaid (Epic Sony/JP) – remix/’99
- PORT OF NOTES/You Gave Me A Love (Crue-L/JP) – remix/’99
- LOBI TRAORE/Koroduga (Frikyiwa/FR) – remix/’99
- FEMI KUTI/Blackman Know Yourself (Polydor/JP) – remix/april ’00
- SILENT POETS/Sugar Man (Toy’s Factory/JP) – remix/may ’00
- BONNIE PINK/Reason (EastWest/JP) – remix/june ’00
- ARTO LINDSAY/Ondina (AVEX/JP) – remix/’00
- RIP SLYME/Underline No.5 (FILE/JP) – remix/july ’00
- X.VALDEZ/Polite Endeavour (Toy’s Factory/JP) – remix w/Silent Poets/nov ’00
- BEBEL GILBERTO / Tanto Tempo (King International) – remix/’00
- K./Echo (Cutting Edge/JP) – sound produce, remix/feb ’01
- SOFT/Art Farmar (COMMA/JP) – remix/sep ’01
- OOIOO/Mountain Book (Polystar/JP) – remix/sep ’01
- Miyazawa Kazufumi / Uchinah ni Furu Yuki(EMI/JP) – remix/nov ’01
- Suger Soul / いいよ (WEA/JP) – remix/may ’02
- Baffaro Daughter / Discotheque Du Paradis (EMI/JP) – remix/Jul ’02
- NXS / Chamber (COMMA/JP)- remix/’02
- Crue-l Grand Orchestra / L’ete, Palma (Crue-L/JP) – remix/Jul ’02
- Flex Life /Yume wo Shitaite (ZETIMA/JP) – remix /Feb ’02
- Frankie Valentine/Moog Rock (Sunshine Enterprises/Austria) – remix/Jun ’03
- Calm/Pharoah (Music Conception/JP) – remix/Apr ’03
- Suite Chic/Signs of Life (AVEX/JP) – remix/Mar ’03
- NIRGILIS/Mayonaka no Shunaidar (Chukuri/JP) – remix/Sep ’03
- bayaka/An Illusive Shadow (ODE/JP) – remix/Sep ’03
- Kahimi Karie/Free Line (VICTOR/JP) – remix/Mar ’04
- Spikewave/Inspiration Information (CRUE-L/JP) – remix/’05
- GoRo/Dub Shanti (Tri-Eight/JP) – remix/’05
- Gabby & Lopez/Drive From The Miracle (FARLOVE/JP) – remix/Aug ’06
- KiLA/Glanfaidh Mé (Plankton/JP) – remix/Sep ’06
- Special Others/Saudade (Victor/JP) – remix/’06
- Ngoma/Over The Over (Sonimage Lab/JP) – remix/’07
- Dachambo/サルビア・オリビア（Jet Set/JP) – remix/’08
- Tommy Guerrero/By Fist and Fury (Rush Production/JP) – remix/’09
- Jebski & Yogurt/Another Gravity (Rose/JP) – remix/’09
- G.Mitchell & Jebski feat. Kengo Ono/Natsu (PAD/JP) – May ’11
- Hiroshi Watanabe/Isolated Soul (Undertone/JP) – ’11
- The Backwoods/Flying Bugz (Ene/JP) – ’11