Man, 'Cochin Moon.' It's astonishing that they were using the relatively new musical form (electronic pop music) with such total control, making it sound effortless and alive in ways electronic pop made with a further couple decades rarely match. I'd say it almost makes 'E=MC2' sound a little clunky. And the production is just unbelievable--not sure what method is employed, but it has moments that create a surround-sound effect--beyond stereo, sounds around the listening point, or moving far away or nearby in front of you.
― Soundslike, Saturday, 12 November 2011 04:20 (1 year ago) Permalink
It's like Dockstader or Parmegianni or Henry--making fully-realized, emotional electronic and electro-acoustic music a decade or two earlier, while most people were just barely managing to twiddle knobs and make "UFO sound effects". So far ahead of the game, I'd be bowled over if it were released today--because it's just so good, it's decidedly secondary that it's visionary.
― Soundslike, Saturday, 12 November 2011 04:22 (1 year ago) Permalink
good description, just wanted to point out that "Hum Ghar Sajan" blows me away every damn time, I wish there were more songs like that one
I'm starting to get into his Omni Sight Seeing/Medicine Comp/NDE period and it's pretty good; essentially a mix of the different styles he's attempted, plus some very Indian-style techno, again ahead of its time. Strongly recommended, it turns out there is life after YMO
― frogbs, Tuesday, 8 May 2012 19:57 (1 year ago) Permalink
"birthday" is so cool
― blank, Thursday, 13 September 2012 07:33 (8 months ago) Permalink
"happy birthday", i mean. sounds so far ahead of its time.
― blank, Thursday, 13 September 2012 07:34 (8 months ago) Permalink
One last time. "birthday party"
only song i've ever uploaded to youtube is a killer cover of "sports man"
― emo canon in twee major (BradNelson), Thursday, 13 September 2012 08:39 (8 months ago) Permalink
hey that's neat! love the different vocals that occur midway through.
― blank, Thursday, 13 September 2012 09:03 (8 months ago) Permalink
I always wondered what Sportsmen was about...my guess was it's about being from a family of athletes, but kind of sucking at everything?
I don't know if I can call "Birthday Party" ahead of its time; who else makes music like that??
― frogbs, Thursday, 13 September 2012 14:39 (8 months ago) Permalink
i love how Sportsmen has this endearingly outsider/emasculated point of view as he considers fitness, it always makes me think of retro illustrations of athletes as a sort of utopian ideal.
― karl...arlk...rlka...lkar..., Thursday, 13 September 2012 15:06 (8 months ago) Permalink
just wanna paste these lyrics, it sounds like he's having a near-death experience (and then again, it could just be about nothing)
My car radio's playing a song That makes me feel very strange It's taken so long Through the gradation of the grey scale A landscape like I've never seen As far as my eyes can see Out on the road I've seen so many shades, shades of grey Now I'm back in the tunnel again Every minute, every second I can feel it getting closer Speeding ahead To where grey meets white
― frogbs, Thursday, 13 September 2012 15:16 (8 months ago) Permalink
thematically, the lyrics of "sportsmen" remind me of "pride" by robert palmer (except the dude in "pride" is a total prick and the dude in "sportsmen" is humble and introspective).
― blank, Thursday, 13 September 2012 23:52 (8 months ago) Permalink
i just made a ~75 minute mix of Hosono tracks, mostly from his post-YMO era (topping out at 1993 since I haven't heard anything after), focusing on the more surreal/gorgeous stuff. anyone interested?
― frogbs, Wednesday, 19 September 2012 13:49 (8 months ago) Permalink
y'huh
― let's get the banned back together (schlump), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 13:59 (8 months ago) Permalink
and yes, please, and thank you!
― nerve_pylon, Wednesday, 19 September 2012 14:00 (8 months ago) Permalink
Hells yes frogbs, post that thing!
― Pat Ast vs Jean Arp (MaresNest), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 14:17 (8 months ago) Permalink
been spinning the monad stuff a lot lately, so this sounds right up my alley. v much interested!
― (⊙_⊙?) (Alan N), Wednesday, 19 September 2012 14:41 (8 months ago) Permalink
Alright, here she is. Nearly every Hosono album I've heard has two or three tunes on it that hit me in a weird way, or make me want to listen to them over and over again, so I basically just put a bunch of them into one playlist and I've been listening to it nonstop. It focuses on the electronic stuff, though there are a few solo piano tracks here. I kept everything from the (numerous) collaborations out as well as his pre-Cochin Moon material since it doesn't really fit in here. Enjoy!
http://www.sendspace.com/file/r4b8ud
― frogbs, Wednesday, 19 September 2012 23:28 (8 months ago) Permalink
into this, thank you.
just discovered the tale of genji ost this week. incredible.
― (⊙_⊙?) (Alan N), Tuesday, 25 September 2012 22:20 (7 months ago) Permalink
those shimmering, reverb-drenched percussion sounds. man.
― (⊙_⊙?) (Alan N), Tuesday, 25 September 2012 22:22 (7 months ago) Permalink
I always hosono every day
― puff puff post (uh oh I'm having a fantasy), Tuesday, 25 September 2012 22:35 (7 months ago) Permalink
the percussion is my favorite part of many of these tracks. listening to them all in a row it's kind of neat how consistant he is with that, even with the ten-year gap the drum loops on "Hum Ghar Sajan" and his cover of "Caravan" are very similar, ditto "Sayokoskatti"
one thing I really dig about Hosono is that there's a real sense of location to a lot of his music. it doesn't really feel like it was created in a studio. the tale of genji ost is a good example of this but really everything he does kind of transports you to a strange place.
― frogbs, Tuesday, 2 October 2012 15:52 (7 months ago) Permalink
"sayokoskatti" is so awesome
― (⊙_⊙?) (Alan N), Tuesday, 2 October 2012 18:09 (7 months ago) Permalink
yep
― clouds, Tuesday, 2 October 2012 19:54 (7 months ago) Permalink
― mookieproof, Tuesday, 2 October 2012 21:13 (7 months ago) Permalink
i'd put that on my car
― frogbs, Tuesday, 2 October 2012 21:26 (7 months ago) Permalink
Thirded. All time.
― blank, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 00:45 (7 months ago) Permalink
really like how chill old Harry is. great rendition
― frogbs, Wednesday, 3 October 2012 01:06 (7 months ago) Permalink