Mariko Fuji
Kyoh-Soh-Kyoku
Continental (Japan) 1982
CI-10 (LP) w/obi, insert.
sleeve : EX-(SOC, wear on corner.)
media : EX/EX-(some slightly noise. B2 has some light noise.)
An album released in 1982, when veteran actress Mariko Fuji—who was also highly active in suspense dramas—was 27 years old. A cult work crafted into a new wave–ish production by Keiichi Suzuki, Yukihiro Takahashi, and Kenji Omura, all connected to the YMO/Beatniks circle. Contributions also come from Kenji Sawada and Shuji Terayama. From tracks like A5 and B1, which transform elements of Japanese folk music into electronic form, to songs that weave in humor, the record delivers a strange wave that blends various cutting-edge styles of the time with YMO-flavored Asian techno-pop. A hidden gem that shows off the sophistication and quality of Japanese production in that era. Especially recommended are B2 and B4, which, with their simple yet finely crafted sound design and Fuji’s whispery vocals, create a remarkable world with a proto–vaporwave feel.