A collection is inherently difficult to shape into a quality release. In cases where an artist releases a compilation of their own songs, simply due to a bands natural evolution, the final product can often be incoherent. Obvious highlights are found mixed in with songs that just don’t mesh. Classic tracks rest alongside weaker pieces in a bid to garner popularity and respect for the new direction of a band well past their heyday. Most b-side albums full of unreleased material are similarly underwhelming, made up of rejects and castaways that couldn’t make the cut for the most recent album. It’s hard to get excited when a collection is announced, and this fact is especially pertinent for an artist like Nujabes. Jun Seba is heavily reliant on the atmosphere his albums conjure, yet here, he hands his labelmates the reigns and simply guides them along with his steady hand. What results is a varied, yet consistent collection of tracks that work together and contribute to one another’s success, reaching for his past works and at times, even eclipsing them.
The first and most notable difference between this collection and past releases, is that not only does he give the Hydeout Collection crew more room to shape the tracks, he isn’t even the producer for a number of tracks. Both Emancipator and Uyama Hiroto are given the limelight and allowed space to craft entire songs on their own. One track is even a remix of a Daisuke Kojima track, with Jun simply shaping the song to fit his bill. This could be considered a risky move, because whilst Nujabes has always been an effort heavy on collaboration, cutting himself out of entire songs is a bit excessive, right? Yet here, it pays off tenfold, adding spice to the album without affecting the core of what makes his music so appealing. Addictive horns, gorgeous string sections, jazz odysseys; they’re all still here, and all entrance just as easily.
| A1 | Nujabes - Voice Of Autumn |
| A2 | Nujabes - Sky Is Falling |
| A3 | Uyama Hiroto - Waltz For Life Will Born |
| A4 | Clammbon, Nujabes - Imaginary Folklore |
| B1 | Nujabes - Hikari |
| B2 | Nujabes - Counting Stars |
| B3 | Nujabes - Another Reflection |
| B4 | Nujabes - Fly By Night |
| C1 | Pase Rock - Old Light (Voices From 93 Million Miles Away Remix) |
| C2 | Emancipator - With Rainy Eyes |
| C3 | Shing02 - Luv(sic.) Modal Soul Remix |
| D1 | Uyama Hiroto - Windspeaks |
| D2 | DSK (2) - Winter Lane (Nujabes Remix) |
| D3 | Nujabes - After Hanabi -Listen To My Beats- |
