YASUAKI SHIMIZU – KAKASHI Vinyl LP Sale

A wonderful, rare record wrapped in a mysterious yet playful ambiance. Or maybe it’s just the impression that the Japanese language often gives me. ‘Suiren’ is an odd jazz-fusion-wave tune that sounds like its boiling, waiting to burst but somehow manages to stay in control. Like the nervous tick of a leg fidgeting under the table of a restaurant on a first date.

Yasuaki Shimizu is a Japanese composer, producer and saxophone player. He worked with Ryuchi Sakamoto on certain arrangements, with the South Korean artist Nam June Paik on art+sound installation piece and even DJ Towa Tei (of Deee-Lite fame). It weaves behind new wave, jazz, fusion, ambient and experimental music.

A joyful, mysterious slow-moving train ride led by the artist’s mellow voice that rocks us with this calming but funky lullaby. Every phrase is punctuated by the xylophone there to energize the piece, albeit very subtly.

Originally released in 1982, Kakashi is another high water mark in the 80s Japanese underground. This album, which has gathered cult status in recent years, is the project of musical visionary Yasuaki Shimizu, and considered to be one of the highlights of his solo career. Shimizu was the bandleader of Mariah, who also saw their album ‘Utakata No Hibi’ reissued by Palto Flats in 2015. Kakashi offers a similar blend of saxophone experimentations, jazz fusion and ambient dub excursions. Since the 70s Yasuaki has collaborated with Ryuichi Sakamoto, Julee Cruise, David Cunningham and others.

Reissued for the first time outside of Japan, with new liner notes from French author Patrice Bollon, translated original liner notes and ‘studio banter’ from Yasuaki Shimizu.  Remastered at Dubplates & Mastering.