It's been three years since KAITO's last proper release AND THAT WAS THE WAY (KOMPAKT 208), a long and meagre period of time for fans of the veteran producer. Having already prepared the eager crowd with primer 12" BEHIND MY LIFE (KOMPAKT 284), Kompakt now proudly presents a new full-length called UNTIL THE END OF TIME that sees Hiroshi Watanabe crafting a deeply personal narrative in line with his earlier works while carving out the timeless qualities of his trademark sound to interlock with today's floor gusto. KAITO's work always had a dreamy quality to it that set the producer apart from his contemporaries, but it certainly would be wrong to assume the new material to be a living room experience only. Since his very first Kompakt release BEAUTIFUL DAY (KOMPAKT 39) from 2001, Hiroshi Watanabe's tectonic trance antics featured a strong beat foundation that keeps those swirling soundscapes firmly floor-bound. The tracks from UNTIL THE END OF TIME are no different, starting with SKY IS THE LIMIT, an enticingly grooving trip to heady heights revealing a ethereal landscape. The doors of perception are further opened with the following I'M LEAVING HOME, WILL TO LIVE and RUN THROUGH THE ROAD IN THE FOG which establish a heartfelt coming-of-age story already by their titles. Private everday life has always been a major source of inspiration for Hiroshi who used to showcase pictures of his son on his record covers, thus creating a deeply personal timeline of human growth. This has changed, however, with the cover of the new album delving into the abstract imagery of meshing clouds, therefore reinforcing the universal, soul-dilating qualities of tracks like BEHIND MY LIFE, INNER SPACE or STAR OF SNOW. The album's closing chapter, an alluringly intimate triplet of pieces featuring DEAR FRIENDS, title track UNTIL THE END OF TIME and SMILE, goes for a more introspective mood by curbing the overall tempo to a meditative jog, wrapping the listener in cosy pads and twinkling fragments of an acoustic guitar. It is a perfectly befitting victory lap for a uniquely wholesome and profoundly life-affirming body of work that leaves you in a state of merry meditation. There's always asking for more, sure, but rarely has an album delivered on so many levels, providing an experience that is highly satisfying both spiritually and physically. KAITO might just have outdone himself this time around.