Japan Music

Erik Satie Piano Music - Ikuyo Kamiya (1985) {RCA Japan RCCD-105, Early Press}
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© 1985 RCA / Red Seal Japan | RCCD-1057
Classical / Early 20th Century / Impressionism / Piano

Acclaimed a master of her generation, Ikuyo Kamiya is one of the most prominent pianists in Japan. Beginning the piano at the age of eight, she studied under Aiko Iguchi at the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo and following her first prize at the Japan Music Competition, was chosen to study at the Essen National Academy in Germany, where she studied with Klaus Hellwig and Stefan Askenaze. Ms. Kamiya´s international career was launched following her victory at the 1972 Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition, after which she was invited to perform throughout Belgium at various festivals in recital as soloist with orchestras including the Brussels National Orchestra and the Antwerp Orchestra. A review of her subsequent London debut described her playing as being “abundant in musicality and powerful presentation” and “the result of a through analysis.´

Norah Jones took liberty with her blockbuster success to set out on a musical walkabout, spending a good portion of the decade following 2004's Feels Like Home experimenting, either on her own albums or on a variety of collaborations. Day Breaks, released four years after the atmospheric adult alternative pop of the Danger Mouse-produced Little Broken Hearts, finds Jones returning home to an extent: it, like her 2002 debut Come Away with Me, is a singer/songwriter album with roots in pop and jazz, divided between originals and sharply selected covers.

Bone Against Steel is the ninth studio album by the southern rock band 38 Special, released in 1991. It was their last album until their 1996 comeback and the last album to feature the vocalist and keyboard player Max Carl. The album itself was a modest commercial success and only reached #170 on the Billboard 200 album chart. However, the single "The Sound of Your Voice", was a major hit, and one of three songs co-written by Survivor's Jim Peterik for the album. The song, with a vocal hook in the chorus very reminiscent of Survivor's "I Can't Hold Back", reached #2 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and #33 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the second of the three Peterik songs, "Rebel to Rebel", only reached #30 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart.

Clepsydra is a Swiss neo-progressive band that was formed in 1990 by Aluisio Maggini (vocals), Lele Hofmann (guitars), Philip Hubert (keyboards), Andy Thommen (bass) and Pietro Duca (drums). In 1998 Clepsydra released their third album "Fears", the first album with Marco Cerulli on guitar. In the wake of the album release Clepsydra had a 10 day long European tour and was booked for a concert in Canada on the strength of this production. In 2001 the band released "Alone" with Nicola De Vita on bass. This album came with 3 different album covers: "The Chicken", "The Octopus" and "The Fish".

Phenomena is a rock concept around a supergroup formed by record producer Tom Galley, Metalhammer magazine founder Wilfried Rimensberger and Tom's brother, Whitesnake guitarist Mel Galley. Contributors were leading rock musicians such as Glenn Hughes, Brian May, Tony Martin and John Wetton amongst others. In a cover story, run by Kerrang! magazine in 1985, Phenomena's production of rock songs based on a story line running through a whole album, attached to artworks and other multi-media aspects was credited for the "return of the concept album" in the 1980s.

three CD set containing a trio of albums from the British band led by David Sylvian: Adolescent Sex, Obscure Alternatives and Quiet Life. Sony.

Toru Takemitsu - Film Music by Toru Takemitsu (2006) {7CD Box Set Victor Entertainment Japan VICG-60593~9}
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© 2006 Victor Entertainment Japan | VICG-60593~9
Classical / Film Score / Contemporary Classical / Avant-Garde / Modern Composition

These are probably the rarest Takemitsu recordings around. Toru Takemitsu composed music for at least 70 films (I have read that it's actually around 90 but I haven't researched this) and the music can be exceptionally wide-ranging: traditional Japanese soloists and ensembles, Western classical tradition, avant-garde and everything in between (jazzy lounge and space age music, anyone?) I feel that some of his best film scores are those which have his delicate Debussian touches combined with traditional Asian music and soloists.