Somei Satoh “Emerald Tablet”

Somei Satoh

Emerald Tablet

ALM Records (Japan) 1981

AL-23 (LP) Original pressing. gatefold sleeve.

sleeve : EX(some slightly dirts.)

media : EX-/EX(some slightly noises. side A has some light noises.)

This is an album released in 1981 by the Japanese composer Somei Satoh, who, through self-study, learned composition and left behind numerous unparalleled works. The A-side features "Incarnation II" and "Cosmical Uterus," both composed in 1978, with performances by Aki Takahashi. The rapid succession of piano chords, enhanced with tape delay, creates interference among the sounds, resulting in a unique resonance reminiscent of the contrast between yin and yang. The B-side track, "Emerald Tablet," also from 1978, features electronic music where individual sounds from a kin, tubular bells, and cymbals are amplified through multiple filter processes, producing a moiré-like texture while generating a wave-like motion in the sound. Particularly in the latter part of the track, you'll be carried away by the powerful waves of sound. While this work can be seen as an extension of the acclaimed 1976 album "Hymn for the Sun," it stands out as a fantastic piece in its own right. Highly recommended.

A1: Incarnation II