Chee Shimizu - Obscure Sound (a music book)

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I have it but a bit too mammoth a task to list all the records. Next time I have insomnia maybe I'll do it though.

stirmonster, Friday, 28 July 2017 09:13 (seven years ago) link

one record a week for the next 10 years plz

plp will eat itself (NickB), Friday, 28 July 2017 09:17 (seven years ago) link

would actually be a good listening club idea tbh

plp will eat itself (NickB), Friday, 28 July 2017 09:18 (seven years ago) link

just jokes btw but anytime you want to flag up a few select titles that would be awesome

plp will eat itself (NickB), Friday, 28 July 2017 09:19 (seven years ago) link

Keep hoping that this might come out in Eigo, I love the More Better Days compilation he curated last year, some fantastic music on there.

MaresNest, Friday, 28 July 2017 09:23 (seven years ago) link

when i have some time, i will do. there is so much amazing music in it that it definitely needs to be shared more widely.

stirmonster, Friday, 28 July 2017 09:25 (seven years ago) link

I had a total meltdown in the Books dept of Disc Union in Shinjuku a few years ago, so many amazing looking reference books that I'll never be able to read and that will never be translated.

MaresNest, Friday, 28 July 2017 09:26 (seven years ago) link

Here is two from it that I had before I got a copy that I absolutely adore.

Michael O'Shea - Michael O'Shea - https://www.discogs.com/Michael-OShea-Michael-OShea/release/167429

林英哲 ‎– 風の使者 - https://www.discogs.com/林英哲-風の使者/master/636582

stirmonster, Friday, 28 July 2017 09:28 (seven years ago) link

It was a potent mixture of option paralysis and total regret at throwing my entire life away by never going to University and moving to Japan when i was twenty so I could read books about Japanese music.

MaresNest, Friday, 28 July 2017 09:28 (seven years ago) link

oooh i know that michael o'shea, came out on wire's label. beautiful record! thank you stirmonster!

plp will eat itself (NickB), Friday, 28 July 2017 09:30 (seven years ago) link

maresnest i hear u and i heart u

plp will eat itself (NickB), Friday, 28 July 2017 09:31 (seven years ago) link

And two I discovered from the book -

Música Esporádica ‎– Música Esporádica - https://www.discogs.com/Música-Esporádica-Música-Esporádica/release/2659986

Takashi Toyoda - Big Bang - https://www.discogs.com/Takashi-Toyoda-Big-Bang/release/2136473

away for the weekend but will post some more next week.

stirmonster, Friday, 28 July 2017 09:35 (seven years ago) link

my man! thank you!

plp will eat itself (NickB), Friday, 28 July 2017 09:36 (seven years ago) link

I never even knew that Dome put out other people's records, but I'm sure I must have known that at one point.

MaresNest, Friday, 28 July 2017 09:40 (seven years ago) link

Just that, the A.C. Marias 7" and also the highly recommended Desmond Simmons "Alone On Penguin Island" album.

stirmonster, Friday, 28 July 2017 10:08 (seven years ago) link

would actually be a good listening club idea tbh

― plp will eat itself (NickB), vrijdag 28 juli 2017 9:18 (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I'd totally be up for this.

Le Bateau Ivre, Friday, 28 July 2017 11:19 (seven years ago) link

we could do that if people are keen? not sure how many are on spotify / youtube but definitely some of them are

plp will eat itself (NickB), Friday, 28 July 2017 13:12 (seven years ago) link

Awesome, thanks for sharing these stirmonster, will also check these out!

Federico Boswarlos, Friday, 28 July 2017 14:23 (seven years ago) link

Hooray!

brimstead, Friday, 28 July 2017 15:04 (seven years ago) link

one month passes...

So there is a copy that just came up for $100 on Amazon's marketplace which, despite my better judgment, I am so tempted to buy....

Federico Boswarlos, Wednesday, 6 September 2017 18:55 (seven years ago) link

one month passes...

Going to try and revive this one - anyone actually want to try out the listening club idea? Or even just individually post interesting otherwise unknown discoveries from it? Could start with ones featured in the discogs list upthread. Even if it's the few of us, it would be a good excuse - for me at least - to finally try and seek some of these albums out and get around to listening to them!

Federico Boswarlos, Thursday, 2 November 2017 15:49 (six years ago) link

i totally forgot about this. i'll post some records from it. will try and make some of them ones i don't know so it motivates me to check them out too.

stirmonster, Thursday, 2 November 2017 17:27 (six years ago) link

I frame stepped through part of the Vimeo of the dude flipping through it... was able to grab some titles that way

Yes I am pathetic

brimstead, Thursday, 2 November 2017 18:56 (six years ago) link

Thanks stirmonster

brimstead, Thursday, 2 November 2017 18:56 (six years ago) link

Yeah, thanks Stirmonster. Let's get this show on the road.

Le Bateau Ivre, Thursday, 2 November 2017 23:31 (six years ago) link

Here's 5 from the "Floating" chapter (picked at random). If the whole album isn't on Youtube you'll find some tracks on the Discogs links. I'll also give the number the record has in the book and the genre Chee assigned to it.

1) Harmonia - Deluxe (Germany, 1975) 441 Rock

I'm guessing there is no need to link this one.

2) D-Day - Grape Iris (Japan, 1986) 449 New Wave

https://www.discogs.com/D-Day-Grape-Iris/release/1457004

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CrD82-8GVQ

I have this one. Comes as a picture disc inside a normal album sleeve. It's an album of two halves so worth listening right through as it is quite a schizophrenic album and the first few tracks in particular are radically different from my personal favourites on the album - "Sweet Sultan", "Dust", "Ki-Ra-I" and "Float A Bort" which could all have made up an imaginary legendary EP on mid 80s 4AD.

3) Hiroshi Yoshimura - Surround (Japan, 1986) 459 Ambient

https://www.discogs.com/Hiroshi-Yoshimura-Soundscape-1-Surround/release/3447244

A holy grail record for me; been after this forever and hoping it will eventually see a reissue. Probably the most "floating" of these. Ecstatic ambient.

4) Litto Nebbia ‎– Canciones Para Cada Uno Vol.1 (Argentina, 1978) 464 Rock

https://www.discogs.com/Litto-Nebbia-Canciones-Para-Cada-Uno-Vol1/release/3621235

I know nothing about this one. Haven't heard it yet.

5) Roberto Musci / Giovanni Venosta ‎– Water Messages On Desert Sand (UK, 1985) 475 Experimental

https://www.discogs.com/Roberto-Musci--Giovanni-Venosta-Water-Messages-On-Desert-Sand/release/755801

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MojW0fVaaFE

Released on Recommended Records. I haven't heard this one. Only thing I know by him is "Tower Of Silence' which Music From Memory put out last year. I'm pretty sure Music From Memory have taken inspiration from this book.

stirmonster, Friday, 3 November 2017 01:25 (six years ago) link

Oops. Hiroshi Yoshimura Youtube link in wrong place but i'm sure you can navigate your way through anyway.

stirmonster, Friday, 3 November 2017 01:27 (six years ago) link

I love the Musci/Venosta records, they were on Mutantsounds for a while

http://post-ambient.blogspot.com/2013/03/664-roberto-musci-giovanni-venosta.html

sleeve, Friday, 3 November 2017 01:31 (six years ago) link

this is terrific, thank you stirmonster!

plp will eat itself (NickB), Friday, 3 November 2017 07:03 (six years ago) link

I'm mostly going to be away the next few weeks so here's another 5 to keep you going.

From the "Spiritual" chapter.

Amaia Zubiria, Pascal Gaigne - Egun Argi Hartan (Spain, 1985) 183 World

https://www.discogs.com/Amaia-Zubiria-Pascal-Gaigne-Egun-Argi-Hartan/release/3350574

Codona (Colin Walcot, Don Cherry, Naná Vasconcelos) - Codona 3 (Germany, 1987) 187 Jazz

https://www.discogs.com/Codona-Codona-3/release/1904147

Eitetsu Hayashi - Kaze No Shisha (Japan, 1983) 190 Contemporary

https://www.discogs.com/林英哲-風の使者/release/3232319

This is the only one of these I have. I adore this record which is in a similar vein to some Yas-Kaz or Geinoh Yamashirogumi. I can't find any Youtube videos for this but one of the tracks can be heard at 45 mins here - https://soundcloud.com/twitch/optimo-espacio-nts-17012017

Ivory Playground - Scattered Clouds (Germany, 1986) 200 Contemporary

https://www.discogs.com/Ivory-Playground-Scattered-Clouds/release/2249855

Naná Vasconcelos ‎– Zumbi (Brazil, 1983) 210 World

https://www.discogs.com/Naná-Vasconcelos-Zumbi/release/1853826

stirmonster, Friday, 3 November 2017 13:21 (six years ago) link

not sure why a couple of those links don't work. you'll have to cut and paste and actually, the Eitetsu Hayashi track starts at 40 minutes on that mix.

stirmonster, Friday, 3 November 2017 13:25 (six years ago) link

Have spent the morning listening to the Yoshimura. Halfway through the weather shifted and a breeze must have picked up because all the old leaves on the big sycamore outside my window started floating down to the ground

Just saw that the first Yoshimura is being reissued next month btw:
https://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=39755

plp will eat itself (NickB), Friday, 3 November 2017 13:26 (six years ago) link

The label says more Yoshimura reissues are on the way.

plp will eat itself (NickB), Friday, 3 November 2017 13:28 (six years ago) link

Hooray, thanks again stirmonster! I'm going to start with the Yoshimura as well. Yes, perfect music for the Fall weather.

Also thanks for reposting about the reissues NickB, it didn't even come across my radar at the time. Going to seek them out!

Federico Boswarlos, Friday, 3 November 2017 13:42 (six years ago) link

yes, and Yoshimura's "Pier & Loft" recently got a vinyl issue for the first time.

stirmonster, Friday, 3 November 2017 13:46 (six years ago) link

oh man, there's one song on that Naná Vasconcelos that I love, it's basically just vocals and drums.

brimstead, Friday, 3 November 2017 14:25 (six years ago) link

Yes, saw that - from Mr. Shimizu himself, it seems! I pre-ordered the Music for Nine Postcards and am excited about what else of his they may be putting out.

Onto D-Day and am feeling those 4AD vibes. This is great stuff, thanks for posting it.

Federico Boswarlos, Friday, 3 November 2017 18:38 (six years ago) link

https://www.discogs.com/Pepe-Maina-Il-Canto-DellArpa-E-Del-Flauto/master/349962

Pepe Maina ‎– Il Canto Dell'Arpa E Del Flauto

this is by far the best record i've gleaned from the book so far... eclectic rhythmic ambient instrumental space folk.. an absolute joy

brimstead, Saturday, 4 November 2017 00:21 (six years ago) link

how are y'all listening to these - Spotify, downloads, hard copies?

sleeve, Saturday, 4 November 2017 00:36 (six years ago) link

strictly internettin

brimstead, Saturday, 4 November 2017 01:39 (six years ago) link

at some point i can YSI (RIP. Now called Hightail) a big folder of the ones I have, if that isn't going to get me banned. ;-)

stirmonster, Saturday, 4 November 2017 05:49 (six years ago) link

thanks for all the links Stir, sitting working my way through these at the moment, some wonderful music.

electrobiscuit, Saturday, 4 November 2017 11:37 (six years ago) link

Nice, that would be amazing. I've been listening via Youtube/Spotify as well.

Federico Boswarlos, Monday, 6 November 2017 17:39 (six years ago) link

This is exactly why I prefer digital downloads to streaming. Should also mention the FondSound and Listen To This! blogs for their own efforts in this area.

doug watson, Monday, 6 November 2017 18:30 (six years ago) link

I've been considering starting a Listen To This! thread but I wouldn't have much to say except Read This! so it would be a bit pointless.

boxedjoy, Saturday, 11 November 2017 19:02 (six years ago) link

return to forever is a great weekend morning listen, ftr

brimstead, Saturday, 11 November 2017 20:25 (six years ago) link

Pepe Maina ‎– Il Canto Dell'Arpa E Del Flauto

thanks for flagging this one up brims, i loved it

plp will eat itself (NickB), Saturday, 11 November 2017 20:31 (six years ago) link

Yes, the tracks I've listened to from it are hitting the spot. Added bonus, looking it up online (it was recently reissued, btw) it pointed me to the prog band Jade Warrior, who I hadn't been aware of and which he identifies as "a strong influence". I randomly came across an album of theirs at a record store the other day which I grabbed and is quite nice (the second half of the album, esp) in a noodly early-mid 70s Eno way.

https://www.discogs.com/Jade-Warrior-Floating-World/release/9826609

http://www.soundohm.com/product/il-canto-dell-arpa-e-del-flauto/pid/17067/

Federico Boswarlos, Monday, 13 November 2017 14:51 (six years ago) link

Yeah, this Pepe Maina album is beautiful. Reminds me a bit of Michel Moulinié's Chrysalide. It's refreshing to rediscover these "ambient prog" albums that I too harshly judged when I was younger (see also Budi Siebert's Hmmm, which I once bought and resold too hastily.) Guess I should have another listen to Jade Warrior.

doug watson, Tuesday, 14 November 2017 15:22 (six years ago) link

I've got a copy too - so good! It's kind of nice that it'll take a million years to read it with Google Lens. Also cool that the tape comes with a download.

cooldix, Friday, 13 March 2020 04:34 (four years ago) link

Is that Walearic book all in Japanese? Guessing it is but wanted to confirm as this seems right up my street.

Hopefully my Obscure Sounds arrives soon as well.

Thebunk, Friday, 13 March 2020 11:52 (four years ago) link

the walearic book is also in japanese and roughly the same format as obscure sound

ysi that tape? mine didn't come with one

adam, Friday, 13 March 2020 13:49 (four years ago) link

Mine came too. I am currently bereft of opportunity to listen to the tape so second the ysi request. Will happily send some Obscure Sound music i have in return. T

stirmonster, Friday, 13 March 2020 18:44 (four years ago) link

Totally delving into it tonight.

stirmonster, Friday, 13 March 2020 18:44 (four years ago) link

Send me an email via my profile if you want to have a listen to the mix.

bamboohouses, Saturday, 14 March 2020 07:55 (four years ago) link

I hope mine comes with a cassette. Don’t recall even seeing an option when I was emailed though an option of with or without a cassette. Is it just being sent randomly?

Thebunk, Tuesday, 17 March 2020 11:47 (four years ago) link

My cassette is numbered 189/200, so looks like I got lucky. Reminds me I really must give it another listen.

cooldix, Tuesday, 17 March 2020 12:31 (four years ago) link

i now have my Obscure Sounds! and my Walearic Disc Guide! really looking forward to digging through those with youtube accompaniment once my job stops being a whirlwind of panic

ymo sumac (NickB), Tuesday, 17 March 2020 12:41 (four years ago) link

thank you so much bamboohouses! now all I need is a trackless, I expect it will pop up on Discogs soon enough

when I was looking for it I realized that Chee Shimizu has some other, older mixes as well

sleeve, Tuesday, 17 March 2020 14:51 (four years ago) link

ffs trackLIST

sleeve, Tuesday, 17 March 2020 14:51 (four years ago) link

Got my book delivered on Friday with the cassette (181/200). Haven’t had a chance to dig into either with my 4yo son bouncing off the walls due to COVID induced cabin fever. Hopefully soon.

Thebunk, Sunday, 22 March 2020 20:29 (four years ago) link

few days ago a friend dropped off a tape deck, so i was finally able to hear the mix — it’s good !

it'll take a million years to read it with Google Lens.

not sure exactly what this is but will look into if that means having a rough translation of the blurbs. as is i’ve been enjoying paging through at random and then digging around on youtube or wherever to find a sound clip

budo jeru, Sunday, 22 March 2020 20:35 (four years ago) link

How are you all reading this? Am I the only person who doesn't read Japanese? Want this book very badly but not to look at pictures.

Paul Ponzi, Sunday, 22 March 2020 20:40 (four years ago) link

Using the Google Lens app, you can get surprisingly decent translations by hovering your phone camera over the text. Might be a bit hard to read it cover to cover this way, but good for individual listings. Check it out!

cooldix, Monday, 23 March 2020 00:33 (four years ago) link

Thanks for the tip cooldix. Never even realized this was a thing. Also I have the Wa-learic book onroute so this will be extremely handy for both books. Cheers!

Thebunk, Monday, 23 March 2020 10:41 (four years ago) link

two weeks pass...

OK, I just made my first random purchase based on this, and it's amazing (thanks Facebook vinyl trading group). Morgan Fisher - 'Flow Overflow'. Former Mott the Hoople (!) keyboardist moves to Tokyo and makes ambient/environmental/TV commercial music not unlike Yoshimura and co. I'll have to make a vinyl rip cos the only online I could find is from an uptight Soulseeker doing FLAC trade-only. His 'Water Music' is on social media and also quite lovely.

Anyone else made any discoveries?

cooldix, Saturday, 11 April 2020 14:07 (four years ago) link

Social media... I mean, streaming services.

cooldix, Saturday, 11 April 2020 14:08 (four years ago) link

I still dig the Glen Velez and Per Tjernberg records I discovered through that Spotify playlist

the mixtape is up on Discogs now, but with no tracklist - get to work, trainspotters!

https://www.discogs.com/Chee-Shimizu-Obscure-Sound-Revised-Edition/release/14978065

sleeve, Saturday, 11 April 2020 16:04 (four years ago) link

I'd love to hear the morgan fisher record if you ever get around to ripping it. Water music is nice.

Deflatormouse, Sunday, 12 April 2020 20:42 (four years ago) link

Hey Deflatormouse (and anyone interested), I've made a vinyl rip of the Morgan Fisher record. Not sure the best way to share?

cooldix, Saturday, 18 April 2020 11:51 (four years ago) link

three months pass...

Some five months later but it arrived today and I love it! Seriously impressed with all obscure Dutch releases I've never even heard of.

Google translate lens app actually works, though it's tiresome to read the whole book in one go like that. The blurbs have a nice bitsize though. Looking forward to starting with the ambient section first. Will have to make sure slsk has enough feul in the tank to help me track some of this stuff down!

Scampidocio (Le Bateau Ivre), Friday, 24 July 2020 16:34 (four years ago) link

one month passes...

this Priscilla Ermel retrospective is really hitting the "obscure sound" sweet spot for me atm

https://music-from-memory.bandcamp.com/album/origens-da-luz

sleeve, Tuesday, 1 September 2020 18:26 (four years ago) link

one month passes...

i finally got round to listening to Chee's tape that comes with the book.

!@%$?

i got about two thirds through side 1. he's trolling with this, isn't he?

stirmonster, Monday, 12 October 2020 17:10 (four years ago) link

how so?? The tape is on my Discogs wantlist but of course it never turns up

Paul Ponzi, Monday, 12 October 2020 17:38 (four years ago) link

lotta smooth acoustic guitars? that’s the impression I got surfing through the albums in the book

brimstead, Monday, 12 October 2020 17:39 (four years ago) link

xp that was a legit q, haven’t heard it myself

brimstead, Monday, 12 October 2020 17:40 (four years ago) link

it is the opposite of smooth acoustic guitars. more musique concrete head frying collage with the odd lapse into pleasant percussion before some more ganrly spoken word bit kicks in again. It slightly reminded me of early Current 93 type sound collages which I like just fine but wasn't really expecting here.

stirmonster, Monday, 12 October 2020 18:17 (four years ago) link

gnarly!

stirmonster, Monday, 12 October 2020 18:17 (four years ago) link

as I noted on the Discogs page, I would love to see even a partial tracklist of this cuz I have no fuckin clue

sleeve, Monday, 12 October 2020 18:48 (four years ago) link

Side 2 is something else entirely. I would also love a tracklist of this side.

stirmonster, Saturday, 17 October 2020 17:45 (four years ago) link

one year passes...

Not sure what thread to put this in tbh, but lost yasuaki shimizu album from 1984 being released on palto flats next year, sleevenotes by yer man chee shimizu:

https://ra.co/news/76561

o shit the sheriff (NickB), Thursday, 16 December 2021 18:28 (two years ago) link

there's a preview clip at the end of that story and lemme tell you, it sounds great

o shit the sheriff (NickB), Thursday, 16 December 2021 18:31 (two years ago) link

That clip sounds completely amazing! Thanks

Maresn3st, Thursday, 16 December 2021 18:56 (two years ago) link

two months pass...

Not sure what thread to put this in tbh, but lost yasuaki shimizu album from 1984 being released on palto flats next year, sleevenotes by yer man chee shimizu:

https://ra.co/news/76561🕸


Jesus this album is amazing

willem, Tuesday, 1 March 2022 22:51 (two years ago) link

this is absolutely incredible

nxd, Wednesday, 2 March 2022 17:46 (two years ago) link

do believe the hype.

stirmonster, Wednesday, 2 March 2022 18:35 (two years ago) link

Yep

J. Sam, Wednesday, 2 March 2022 19:24 (two years ago) link

cosign

bad milk blood robot (sleeve), Wednesday, 2 March 2022 19:32 (two years ago) link


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