A thread for Mico aka Apache 61 aka Mieko Shimizu, the obscure but talented UK-based Japanese electronic musician

arg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu_PbnWrwn0&index=4&list=PLuqs2Nv7_QM5wWkSmt2MeoXDv_ynFZ5WH

ok Yasuaki Shimizu and Mieko Shimiz are different people, i have had too much coffee today

Yes, I think Mieko Shimizu is his daughter? But I've liked the Yasuaki stuff that I've heard too, his saxophone versions of Bach's cello suites are pretty dope.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5bB7s4kBbI

Though I have to say I don't much like that synth pop stuff he's done, I've tried to listen to it over Youtube a few times, but it's just too corny-sounding to me.

I'm not sure whether Mieko is Yasuaki's daughter, but I've always assumed so because she has some writing credits on his albums, like this one:

https://www.discogs.com/Yasuaki-Shimizu-Aduna/release/3267370

Here's some jazzier stuff by Yasuaki & the Saxophonettes, it's really dope! The whole Pentatonica album is well worth checking out if you're into this kind of sax sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H39OEWdCbFg

I eventually found out that Mieko Shmizu is not Yasuaki's daughter but his sister. I also acquired that "Aduna" album I linked to above, and it's quite fun! It's kinda of a Japanese version of those 80s "world beat" fusion albums, like Mandingo or Herbie Hancock's "Sound-System". So you have Wasis Diop from Senegal playing the guitar and singing some folksy vocals, Yasuaki bringing in a Japanese/jazz flavour with his sax and keyboards and rather gruff voice, Mieko adding some pop flavour with her singing, etc. Really a bit of a weird mess, but quite enjoyable! And it has the best cover of Harry Belafonte's "Banana Boat Song" that I've ever come across, almost on par with the original.

Here's a video/clip of "Come Tomorrow" from it, it's about as odd as the entire album!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVDpBYrC5rY

According to her Facebook page she has a new album out this spring after a 6 year break, I'm really looking forward to it, since both Phenomena of the Mind and My Tentacles were quite good.

Dunno what happened to the links uphtread, but here's a couple of videos from those two albums:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSNR91VOHh0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeUofw8kuQo

And here's some Apache 61:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv5wXaYZ4bw

Oh, that's weird, I couldn't see the YouTube links upthread on the computer, but I can see them now on my tablet. Sorry about posting them twice!