Iroha Ni Konpeitou

Description

Wewantsounds continues its reissue program of Akiko Yano's albums with the release of Iroha Ni Konpeitou (??????????), one of Yano's funkiest albums, showcasing her talents as a singer and songwriter. It may be Akiko Yano's most well-known record outside of Japan, not only because of its unusual cover – a photo taken by the famous photographer Bishin Jumonji featuring Akiko holding an inflatable dolphin – but also because the album is one of Akiko's funkiest. A smooth blend of Japanese pop and New York funk, the album was recorded in Tokyo, except for the title track "Iroha Ni Konpeitou," which was recorded in New York with a group made up of the cream of New York's studio musicians: Rick Marotta, David Spinozza, Will Lee, and Nicky Marrero. For the rest of the album, Akiko is accompanied by the best musicians from the Tokyo scene surrounding the bands Happy End and Tin Pan Alley: the legendary Haruomi Hosono on bass, Tatsuo Hayashi on drums, Shigeru Suzuki on guitar, to name just a few. Notably, two compositions by Hosono appear on the album: "Ai Ai Gasa," which he recorded on his iconic album Hosono House in '73, and "Hourou," originally recorded by singer Chu Kosaka in '75. The album also features another key musician, Hideki Matsutake, who programs the keyboards played by Akiko: Moog IIIc, Mini Moog, String Ensemble, in addition to the Fender Rhodes, Clavinet, and Yamaha CP7C. Matsutake would soon become the chief programmer for the band YMO. Although the album is very accessible and funky, more complex electro elements lie beneath this apparent accessibility, as seen in the brief introductory track "KAWAJI," a sort of futuristic electro fantasy, or in "Ai Ai Gasa" and "Kinou Wa Mou," where Akiko herself plays the bass line on the Moog, details that make for a rich and captivating album. The tracks on the album highlight Akiko Yano's superb compositions and her gift for crafting perfect melodies. Iroha Ni Konpeitou will delight all fans of Japanese music, funk, and sophisticated pop, proving once again that she is one of the most important artists in Japanese music. Vinyl version of Iroha Ni Konpeitou, the album by Japanese pop artist Akiko Yano originally released in 1977. This album is being released for the first time outside of Japan. This deluxe edition includes remastered sound, a download card, and the original 4-page booklet with poster, lyrics, and musician credits.