中沢厚子 - ファースト・アルバム

by request, here is 中沢厚子's ファースト・アルバム. overall, this is a splendid example of pre-1980s japanese pop. its elements of enka are still fairly evident, as are its folk and blues themes. so, basically, this album doesn't do anything terribly original . . . however, it's fantastic, and i would certainly suggest this to anyone looking to get into that sort of music. her voice is very angelic and completely infectious, like a perfectly made confectionery treat.

anyways, grab this if you want to hear what most pop sounded like before idol singers became popular.


1. あなたが母を愛したように　あなたが父を愛したように
2. かぎっこ
3. 春がやってきたのに
4. 落葉の挽歌
5. 歩いて行きたいところは
6. あじさいの歌
7. 千羽鶴
8. あじさいの花の下で
9. 浜木綿の花
10. 鐘が鳴る前に
11. いつのまにか覚えてしまった言葉
12. セピア色のバラード
13. あやつり人形
14. 道草


ENJOY

黒色エレジー - Esoderic Mania

by request, here is 黒色エレジー LP Esoderic Mania (i'm sure that was supposed to be "Esoteric" Mania, but blame the band, not me). it's a splendid female-fronted goth album (what other kind of goth would i possibly be posting here, right?). the best part about this album, without a doubt, are those guitars. they're absolutely perfect on every song. just the right amount of new wave influence, as well (like most goth i post here, whatever).
the vocalist is also great, because she can switch between a high pitch little girl voice and a deep crooning voice. actually, for all i know, there may be two female vocalists, but i doubt it.


1. Sun Stroke
2. 邪宗門
3. 花粉犯罪
4. 夢の成る頃
5. 安息日
6. 鵺の想い
7. 太陽眼
8. 訪れざる宴
9. 満月の夜
10. Warrior
11. Goddess
12. 揺籃の刻
13. 神々のレース
14. 虹と蛇のブルース


ENJOY

ＳＯＤＯＭ - P.E. / Peak Experience

so, here's another acid house album by my favorite band, ＳＯＤＯＭ. this album is at least as fabulous their self-titled album that came after this. that's all you really need to know; if you liked ＳＯＤＯＭ then i can pretty much guarantee you'll like this.

the first track, "U Can", seems to be like an early blue-print for the fantastic performance of "Can U Acid?" (which, tragically, does not exist on any album, single, or EP that i'm aware of). it's not quite as tight or giddy as that song that i fear was only played live, but it's still really great.

the second track is a totally questionable remix (and re-recording of) their opus, "Beyond...". i'm not entirely sure what drove them to remake this song, but whatever; it's totally awesome/retarded. fortunately, it sounds like an entirely different song, so it's not really tainting the original. i've listened to it billions of times by now, of course, but it's still a goofy song.

track three ("Voice In Your Eyes" . . . what?) opens with this ridiculous synthetic strings, and just gets stupider/awesomer from there. the vocals are great, though, so this is one of my favorite tracks from the album. and basically the rest of the album keeps up with this same sort of corny-awesomeness. i can't get over how much i love this album.

also, that album cover is so excellent. it kinda reminds me of Grace Jones (and the music does have roots in disco, so this is a little fitting).


p.s. i'm almost tempted to call this a remix album, except that these are re-imaginings; all of the recordings here are fresh.


1. U Can
2. Beyond (Tom Tom Mix)
3. Voice In Your Eyes
4. Art Of Lav (Factory Style)
5. Joy & Pain
6. Castle In The Air (Sweet Dub)
7. King Of House (Groove Your Body)
8. Lovers Around (O・A Mix)
9. Egypt (Haza's Beat)


ENJOY

Der Eisenrost - Tokyo Fist

here is a spectacular OST for a spectacular film (of the same name) by a spectacular director. 石川忠 has been a favorite composer of mine for a while now, likely because of his partnership with 塚本晋也 on some many of 塚本's films (i previously posted a compilation of songs from his TETSUO films). so, this will most certainly satisfy those who enjoyed the soundtrack to TETSUO: The Iron Man. the same frantic drums and mechanical grinding percussion is on display here, and there are even moments of delicate meditation here (anytime the song "Lost" would play during TETSUO i would fall under a gentle spell of reflection).

anyways, really excellent stuff here. most certainly check this out.


1. Knock Off
2. Over Crowd
3. Gryphis Glaucus
4. Going Down For...
5. Half Truth
6. Move On
7. Selene


enjoy

葛生千夏 - The City In The Sea

this album is . . . a masterpiece. it's become a regular (daily) listen for me. it's such a completely magical and majestic album. when i finally heard this album after playing her St. Agnes' Eve EP perhaps too many times (which of course is bullshit; i fully intend to continue to listen to that wonderful, wonderful, wonderful album), it was like a revelation. it was a breath of the purest air.

while the songs on the aforementioned EP are beautiful, there was always something lacking there for me. on The City In The Sea, the songs go beyond the two minute mark, and this gives them room to reach their full potential. i suppose i always thought to myself (about St. Agnes' Eve) that the songs would sound much better if only she had allowed them to breath! and on this album she does just that. in fact, the entire reason this album is so beautiful to me is the way each song builds up to the climax.

the highest point for me would most certainly be the luscious "The City In The Sea §1". the lyrics (taken from an E. A. Poe poem) speak of a watery realm inhabited by the dead, and presided over by Death himself. this song sums up the entire album for me. after a melancholic instrumental interlude, the song really begins, and starts to rise and rise to the beautiful ending of the song. the things this song does to me are indescribable. really, the whole album sounds like an ancient kingdom that has long been lost to the waves.

1. The May Queen
2. Nature Rewards Me
3. A Recent Letter
4. Fairy-Land
5. The City In The Sea §1
6. The City In The Sea §2
7. The Voyage
8. Since I Left You (Sonnet 113)
9. Eldorado
10. Eulalie - A Song
11. 真珠

ENJOY

マサ子さん - つちのこ男爵

okay, so here's another album by the always wonderful マサ子さん. this is probably my favorite album by them, as is the most concise and consistent in sound and quality. it's a beautiful masterpiece of kawaii~ chaos. this is the album that really defines マサ子さん for me, and was the very first album i ever heard by them, annnnnnd it's the album that solidified them as my favorite nagomu related band. they are the perfect combination of punk, pop, and new wave, and i don't know why i haven't spoken more about them, to be honest.

this album is fantastic from beginning to end, but the tracks that i replay the most would have to be "雨にヌレテモいーや", which is a really strange "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" homage, and "PSYNOMEY" which is just a really fucking catchy song. it kinda sound sinister, but not in a really threatening way. more in a cute way? i dunno, it's hard to explain.

anyways! grab this album ASAP, because it's one of my favorites.


0. マサ子さんのテーマ
1. LOVE:LOVE SONG
2. 花梨(リーフォア)
3. DEVO
4. Nonsense Song
5. 雨にヌレテモいーや
6. PSYNOMEY
7. 知らぬ世界
8. PUNK 花梨
9. フルーツ オレ ヨーグルト
10. 夜の都会(まち)に眠れ
11. 車からみてね


ENJOY