Susumu YokotaBest Susumu Yokota Albums Ranked

sakura

pitchfork

8.4

“Though they're working in dramatically different styles, I think it's safe to say that artists like Nobukazu Takemura, Aki Tsuyuko, Neina and Susumu Yokota share a sensibility. Each is capable of crafting subtle music that's not afraid to be warm and pretty, but they shade the tender melodies and hints of violence and loss. With now-familiar techniques like malfunctioning technology (Neina's Oval-”

Laputa (2025 Remastered)

pitchfork

8.3

“Susumu Yokota makes albums that increasingly worry the boundaries of IDM, ambient and sound collage. This is his most abstract and foreboding-sounding release yet.”

Symbol

loudandquiet

8.0

“Since his death in 2015, there has been a widespread reappraisal of the work of ambient techno producer Susumu Yokota, with albums like Acid Mt. Fuji and Sakura becoming immensely popular on YouTube. Lo Recordings have now started on a series of vinyl reissues, starting with 2004 album Symbol. It’s his most characterful project, an ambient record which samples heavily and brazenly from car-advert”

Grinning Cat (2025 Remaster)

pitchfork

7.8

“Unless I somehow learn how to read Japanese, I'm a long way from understanding the Susumu Yokota story. My introduction came via a compilation track called "Azukiio No Kaori," a delicate slice of drifting ambient beauty striking enough to convince me to buy last year's *Sakura*. No regrets, believe me; it wound up being one of my favorite records of the year. Poking around online, I discovered tha”

Symbol

pitchfork

7.7

“Bedroom composer compiles most of his latest release with classical music samples.”

The Boy and the Tree

pitchfork

6.0

“There is a massive iceberg looming underneath the music we know from Susumu Yokota's work with Leaf. In his native Japan he's released an uncountable number of records under many different names in every dance music style imaginable, and this IDM/ambient stuff is seen as an esoteric side project. Meanwhile, though he's never made much of an impact on the stateside dance scene, those interested in ”