Attempting to recreate the golden yesterdays of Jose Padilla`s White Isle sunsets with the tunes of today.
Yasuaki Shimizu – Umi No Ue Kara – Palto Flats / WRWTFWW
Avant-Garde saxophonist Yasuaki Shimizu seems to be one of the Japanese artists under the re-issue spotlight at the moment (alongside Midori Takada and Hiroshi Yoshimura). Crammed Discs have repressed his collection of shorts for commercials. While Palto Flats couldn’t keep up with demand for his Mariah project`s うたかたの日々/ Utakata No Hibi. Kakashi dates from around the same time (1982/83) as the Mariah recordings, and is a similar mix of electronics, traditional Japanese elements, and Shimizu-san`s sax and clarinet. This track, as its title suggests, is a sonic seascape.
Iury Lech – Barreras – Cocktail d`Amore
More aquatic electronics from Iury Lech. The aural equivalent of rippling water, dating from 1990. The Ukraine-born Lech`s LP was originally released by Spanish label Hyades Arts (run by El Sueno De Hyparco – see below). It`s now been picked up CockTail d`Amore. An imprint presided over by Berlin-based Italians, Discodromo.
Jun Fukamachi – Morning Glow – WRWTFWW
Themes full of love and light. Composed by the late Jazz-Fusion keyboard virtuoso for fashion house, Nicole`s 1986 catwalk shows. The music recalls the best of Joe Hisaishi`s scores and a “Beaten” Art Of Noise. A Brenda “Beachball” Ray favourite.
El Sueno De Hyparco – Rhodas – Urpa i musell
Music from Madrid inspired by Jean-Michel Jarre, Klaus Schulze, Tangerine Dream, and Vangelis. The group even assuming Germanic sounding pseudonyms in tribute to Schulze. This arpeggiated, Korg Polysix-driven track was included on one of Psychemagik`s Ritual Chants compilations earlier this year. But the reissue of LP it was lifted from inaugurates a label spun out of Barcelona record store, Discos Paradiso. The artwork and swirling synths make it look and sound like a lost Innovative Communication.
Leondias & Kay Suzuki – Interstellar Meditation – Burnin Recordings
Thunder, lightning and birdsong pan around the inside of your mind. In a deconstructed House recreation of an audience with Ayahuasca`s green spirit.
Oneohtrix Point Never – The Pure & The Damned – WARP
Taken from Oneohtrix Point Never`s Good Time soundtrack. I love Iggy, and treasure him even more with Bowie and Lou both gone. Here, he sounds as close to Johnny Cash as anyone`s ever gonna get.
Hiroshi Yoshimura – Water Copy – Empire Of Signs
The first release on Light In The Attic off-shoot, Empire Of Signs, is a re-issue of Japanese Ambient pioneer Hiroshi Yoshimura`s 1982 LP, Music For Nine Postcards. Environmental Music / Konkyu Ongaku that translates Eno`s ideas into improvisations on a slowly evolving simple keyboard refrain. Fender Rhodes and synthesised drone pieces inspired by the view from Yoshimura-san`s window. Transcribing clouds, the movement of trees, rain and snowfall into sound. If you can find a copy, also check out, Pier & Loft, which was released by Chee Shimizu`s 17853 Records earlier this year. It disappeared in a blink, but I think a repress is on the way.
Hello Skinny – Ratnakara – Brownswood Recordings
Tom Skinner`s sunset drum circle track that works like a Trance Mutation update of the Yasuaki Shimizu opener. With sax replaced by Peter Zummo`s trombone.
DK – Leaving – Antinote
Parisian D.K. channels Pat Metheny & Steve Reich`s Electric Counterpoint, Art Of Noise`s Moments In Love, Midori Takada`s Mkwaju Ensemble, and those Jun Fukamachi Nicole sessions. Leaving assembles all these and uses them as a jumping off point.
Track-list
Yasuaki Shimizu – Umi No Ue Kara – Palto Flats
Iury Lech – Barreras – CockTail d`Amore
Jun Fukamachi – Morning Glow – WRWTFWW
El Sueno De Hyparco – Rhodas – Urpa I Musell
Leondias & Kay Suzuki – Interstellar Meditation – Burnin Recordings
Oneohtrix Point Never – The Pure & The Damned – WARP
Hiroshi Yoshimura – Water Copy – Empire Of Signs
Hello Skinny – Ratnakara – Brownswood Recordings
DK – Leaving – Antinote
