Drummer Kazuya Oi appears alongside koto performer LEO on the newly released track “Vanishing Metro,” set to appear on LEO’s upcoming album microcosm, scheduled for release on July 16. The track, unveiled on June 18, marks a collaboration between two musicians working in very different traditions, one grounded in classical Japanese music, the other in contemporary percussion.
The recording is presented as a live performance, filmed in a studio setting with a minimalist approach. Kazuya Oi and LEO are positioned face to face, with no stage lighting, no audience, and no added effects. The focus remains entirely on the performance itself. The setup, stripped of distractions, makes space for the dynamic exchange between the two instruments. Oi plays a compact drum kit arranged to respond closely to the nuances of the koto, not overpowering but always present in the texture.
“Vanishing Metro” appears early in the album’s tracklist and sets the tone for a broader series of collaborations. Microcosm features contributions from other musicians, including tabla player U-zhaan, pianist Masaki Hayashi, and saxophonist Tomoaki Baba. Each track aims to explore the possibilities that emerge when artists from different musical languages find a shared space.
Oi’s performance on this track shows a careful, restrained approach. His drumming follows LEO’s lead, matching the phrasing of the koto with deliberate shifts in rhythm and tone. Fills appear briefly and then fade, never lingering, and always in conversation with the melody rather than standing apart from it. The tempo flows naturally, without rigid structure, guided more by feel than count.
The video remains unbroken from start to finish, capturing the full take as it happened. It offers an unfiltered look at how the piece evolves: slowly, with subtle tension, and with room for silence. There is no attempt to stylize or dramatize the performance. Instead, the viewer is left to watch two musicians working through a conversation in sound.
This is Oi’s first recorded collaboration with LEO. Known for his experience in jazz and modern ensemble settings in Japan, Oi brings a light but precise touch that adapts to the koto’s distinctive resonance. His drumming, though understated, gives the track momentum and form.
Microcosm builds on LEO’s history of working across genres. With “Vanishing Metro,” what makes the album stand out is how it gives an early glimpse into what these collaborations can really sound like: thoughtful, patient, and driven by attentive interaction, not just a mash-up of different styles for show.