The memory of DJ Klock
April 18th, 2007 by rasmus
Sad news indeed. Ryo Kato known to us as DJ Klock, or just Klock, is no longer here. April 10th he decided to leave this life. We hope he has found peace where he is now.
Klock was 1/3 of Cacoy, the Japanese trio who in February 2006 released the album Human is Music in Europe on our label Rumraket. An album that to this date still stands as one of the absolute favorite albums among us Efterklang people. Since 2004 we have listened to the album regularly with constant joy – so this is indeed sincere and a fact.
 Cacoy – Human is Music |
We were presented to the Cacoy album in the fall of 2004 and a year later when Klock and Saya and Ueno (from Tenniscoats) gave us permission to release this album in Europe (three years after it´s initial release in Japan) it was like a little dream that came true for us. We will never forget them for trusting us and for letting us work with them. |
Through Cacoy we learned about the artist Dj Klock. We are glad that we have been presented to all of this music. Klock has an impressive discography behind him as a soloartist on great labels such as Sublime, Revirth and Ropeadope and together with his wife Yuki, he also ran his own Clockwise Records. All of his works are indeed worth listening to – allthough they can be difficult to find here in Europe. The albums I know best are:
 San (Ropeadobe, 2006) |
 Sensation (Revirth, 2004) |
These two albums display Klocks magnificent talent. He was a master of turntablizm and a master of dry constantly moving beats. Even more important he was an aesthetic and his combination of musical skills, artistery and flair for moods and composition was unique. His ability to see music as an art and not just as entertainment makes him a rare artist that will be missed. I can also recommend his Rainbow Trilogy (cd, vinyl and tape) – a very interesting project under his other name Turntabrush.
 Klock visiting me in Copenhagen – Sep 2006 |
My relationship to Ryo Kato existed almost mainly through his music. On one single occasion I got to meet him, when he in september 2006 visited us here in Copenhagen. He played at a Rumraket night and what he did with his three turntables and effects still stands very clear to me. I know there are more of his kind around the world, but I have never witnessed anything like that with my own ears and eyes. |
After the concert Ryo stayed in my apartment and next day, we walked around Copenhagen in beautiful sunshine for hours before he was off again to another city. As much as Im sad that I never will have the chance to meet him again, Im very grateful I at least got to meet him this one time.
In the end Ryo was touched by an unbreakable depression. DJ Klock leaves behind him wife and kid and a musical legacy. He will be remembered and missed.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:14
Damn this is really really sad news. He’ll be sorely missed.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:25
this is absolutely tragic. i’m fortunate enough to have a handful of klocks releases and he was a huge talent that will be sorely missed. we played tracks from san and other releases on our radio show and he was an artist i always looked out for releases by. RIP klock
April 19th, 2007 at 11:36
Rest in peace.
April 20th, 2007 at 07:14
Terrible tragic. His magnificent soundscapes was without a doubt an inspiration to the lot his audience.
April 20th, 2007 at 20:16
Rest’in peace dj klock!!
April 21st, 2007 at 02:30
big talent, beautiful heart…
April 21st, 2007 at 11:12
Depression is a disease of awful power. Thanks for the inspiration. He will be missed.
April 22nd, 2007 at 10:04
I know him since day one in Tokyo and we love his music so much. Spoke with KRUSH last night and we talk about how much we miss him & his talent.
Peace
April 22nd, 2007 at 17:45
education and understanding can sometimes get in the way, blindness is underestimated. i am terribly sad at hearing this news. i wish the best for his wife yuki and young child. rest in peace. benjamin
April 23rd, 2007 at 20:48
Hope you’ll find there the happiness and inspiration your music gaves us . Rest in peace…
May 3rd, 2007 at 03:28
klock we miss you you brought a nu dimension to our art.barnstormers…you make musik always in the galaxyiez.
May 3rd, 2007 at 03:30
kock is musikmasta.
August 17th, 2007 at 04:55
yo klock, hope you find one you wanted there.
your music is only one and timeless.. thanks.
Rest in peace..
August 23rd, 2007 at 06:06
I’m so sorry for him and his family. If he was a long-time sufferer of depression that saddens me even more, because it is treatable. Rest in Peace.
October 11th, 2009 at 00:59
Rest in peace DJ Klock! I can only imagine the undoing of such an artistic soul.