It s been 4 years since the release of Makoto s last full length album, Believe In My Soul, on Good Looking Records. A lot has changed in the world of electronic music since then, and as an artist, Makoto has also grown considerably. Spreading his wings by first establishing his own record label, Human Elements, Makoto has kept up a steady release flow of both his own music and other artists through his own label as well as others such as DJ Marky s Innerground Records and Fabio s Creative Source. By 2010 however, Makoto felt the time had come to once again return to the depths of his studio in Tokyo to craft another full length album. For the most part, Souled Out explores new frontiers for the artist primarily known as Japan s drum and bass MVP. Consisting of a wide variety of tempos and beats, the album is, at first, quite a different experience when compared to his past work. However, it quickly becomes clear that the trademark Makoto style of bass heavy energy drenched with funk & soul still flows freely through each song. There has also been a decided shift away from an over-use of samples and the result is a much more musical experience, which takes the listener on a journey through many emotions. Lush chords, fat basses from hardware synths and a good number of exceptionally talented vocalists and instrumentalists breathe life into the tracks, delivering that human touch Makoto strives for in his music.Feelings run deep on the album, and there s a good amount of uplifting and emotion driven tunes which fit a variety of moods. Tower of Love, which features vocalist Paul Randolph of Jazzanova fame, is one of the freshest drum and bass tunes of the past decade, fusing heavy bass with a classic Motown sound in a way that has simply never been done before. Girl I m Running Back 2 U, featuring singerChristian Urich a member of the jazz band Tortured Soul who has worked with the likes of Incognito & DJ Spinna tells a tale of regretting a missed chance at love in a style that truly shows Makoto s musical diversity. While the song is deep and could easily fit into a club garage or house set, its infectious funk and bumpy drums mean that it would sound just right on prime time radio. At the other end of the scale, the track Woe written with Makoto s long time vocalist partner Deeizm, is an empowered melancholic piece. With rising pads and sultry, heartfelt lyrics, minimal but heavy beats and a synthetic crescendo that punches through the speakers to send a shiver down your spine. To put it simply, the track really is something special. Alongside the slower tempos, Keep Me Down featuring Angela Johnson features Makoto s trademark sound of a heavy bass line and amen break rumbling underneath huge soulful vocals and driving chords. Undeniably a guaranteed dance floor favorite. Souled Out doesn t just deliver the same level of quality you ve come to expect from Makoto, it expands on it. There s something for everyone on the release, and the album is a testament to the breadth of experience and talent the producer commands, as he easily shifts between tempos, genres and moods, while still maintaining his style of soul infused, funky, futuristic and forward electronic music.