Stars (Red Ink, 2003)

You might not recognize the name Kazufumi "Echo" Kodama, but if you've listened to any of Mute Beat's material, you've heard him as the group's co-founder.  Stars, his fourth solo album, sports a sound similar to that of the seminal Mute Beat in Dub: tranquil, hypnotic, led by heavily jazz-influenced horns, but always grounded in classic reggae, with subtle keyboards and rumbling bass lines.  Listening to Stars is like tuning into a "Smooth Jazz" radio station at 2:00 AM, sans the cheesy Barry White-hopeful DJ.  The music here -- usually propelled by Kodama's crisp, textbook jazz trumpet and often supported by classical strings, along with the more standard reggae keyboards and bass (and even a steel drum-like sound on "Moon" and "Romance") -- remains classy, sensual, dark, and utterly entrancing.  (The only non-conforming track is "Moonlight Waltz," an orchestral ballad with no traces of dub -- also the only song featuring vocals.)  Stars almost has the air of an ambient album, but it never really ventures that far out of the realm of traditional reggae/dub.  It's tough to pick any standout cuts; this is the type of album you just let play in the background as you enjoy a thoughtful/peaceful/romantic drive/walk/roll in the hay.  Some may find this album a bit too dull (it is S-L-O-W, but not nearly as anesthetizing as ambient), but if you like your dub moody and jazzy, this is a solid choice.