about the record

Japanese drummer and producer Takafumi Okada is known for his work with the experimental band goat, as well as for his solo output under the Manisdron alias. His discography is rooted in DIY sounds, an unconventional approach to production, and an ability to create tension and mystery through layered polyrhythmic grooves.

Nboj Tespo is an offshoot of Takafumi’s solo work. Across nine tracks, warm electronic sounds are layered with polymetric rhythms, arranged to draw the listener into a hypnotic state. Working in his home studio, Takafumi combines an Elektron Machinedrum, a Boss delay pedal, and a Novation Bass Station 2 to produce minimal grooves that gradually expand into fully formed structures with a life of their own.

While Manisdron represents one side of Takafumi’s solo output, focused on machine-like rhythms articulated through a real drum kit, Nboj Tespo inverts that logic, creating organic pieces built from a drum machine. The artist name itself offers a clue: shifting each letter of Manisdron down a notch reveals its counterpart, the same identity viewed from a different angle.

If the perspective of Nboj Tespo carries a theme, it lies in finding positivity or a mysterious sense of satisfaction in everyday life. That makes Blessed Planet a perfect companion, for both the inside and the outside world.