Chee Shimizu - Obscure Sound (a music book)

https://pictures.abebooks.com/isbn/9784845622580-uk.jpg

Does anyone out there have a copy of this book by any chance? It's basically a list of interesting-looking LPs that may well have just been beamed from a dream of imaginary records. Subdivided into the following sections, I think there are about 50 records in each:

- Organic
- Ethnic
- Psychedelic
- Spiritual
- Experimental
- Cosmic
- Meditative
- Tropical
- Floating
- Mellow
- Pensive
- Groovy

I would absolutely love a complete list of records from it if anyone is willing and able?

Published in 2013 in Japan btw.

There's a flick through its pages right here:
https://vimeo.com/69685842

Someone has also made a Discogs list of the first two chapters here:

https://www.discogs.com/lists/Obscure-Sound/281665

ooh this looks like a "cool" version of John Corbett's Vinyl Freak anthology

only copy i can find to buy is $207.00 US

His instagram is quite nice to follow btw, a lot of his posts are of things he's sourced for his record store, and maybe half of it is rubbish who knows? but gosh there are so many intriguing and mysterious album covers on this our planet

yeah there's probably a thread to be had on "record geek Instagram accounts" but I have not gone down that rabbit hole.

ha yes, 75% of the accounts I follow!

this looks dope as hell!!

Oh man, after reading the Playing Favourites feature on him that Resident Advisor did, I desperately sought out the book, checking all sorts of Japanese sites. No luck, sadly.

https://www.residentadvisor.net/features/2723

Would love to see what else is in it, if someone has a copy (or easy access to one). One of those new record geek outlets (e.g., Record Magazine, Dust and Grooves) should republish it. Or one of these reissue labels.I would totally contribute to a kickstarter for it.

I would totally also nerd out on an instagram accounts thread. I think the closest thing was the dj's and their living rooms thread from a while back, which was a nice and weirdly satisfying one to follow.

yeah that RA feature is great! maybe someone somewhere is working on a translation of the book, who knows?

btw was also wildly oogling these japanese books on my fruitless search:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51vpKTlnnXL._SX349_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41QpHfxRR7L._SX350_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/519XA88EM3L._SX349_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41jni9gfR6L._SX326_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/513P98QCFXL._SX332_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41-6BU7Ou0L._SX338_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

need a subscription where i just get a random one of these sent to my house every month

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.

one record a week for the next 10 years plz

would actually be a good listening club idea tbh

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

maresnest i hear u and i heart u

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.

my man! thank you!

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

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

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.

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

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

Hooray!

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....

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!

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.

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

Thanks stirmonster

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

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.

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

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

this is terrific, thank you stirmonster!

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

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.

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

The label says more Yoshimura reissues are on the way.

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!

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

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

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.

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

awesome

YSI?

Can't wait for this.

My copy has arrived! With cassette. Such a beautiful book, and the new chapters (on Yasuaki Shimizu, ECM, Japanese ambient etc) seem pretty bang on with what I want to listen to right now...

Anyone want to do a cover-to-cover listening thread?

BTW, I think some selections from the previous edition have been removed - the Mellow, Groovy, Tropical chapters are gone, and at a quick glance, Frida's Something's Going On has been removed...

ah i keep forgetting to order this! thanks for the reminder, when i get my copy i would be happy to embark upon a listening odyssey

still waiting......

^^ same.

i was late with my order and then i never heard back from chee, so i've ended up ordering from amazon.co.jp.

also ordered this at the same time cos it looks like fun:

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/41eroewqITL._SX350_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

This guide book features various albums recorded & produced in Japan, ranged from Easy Listening, Mood Music, New Age, Ambient, Pops, Rock, Disco, New Wave, Movie OST till Cartoon OST. Under the supervision of Shotaro Matsumoto who is a famous store manager of Coconut Disc record shop, 10 writers introduce about 600 discs."Walearic" is a word coined by Matsumoto, connecting "Wa"(means "Japanese" in Japanese) and "Balearic" club music established in Ibiza, Spain through '00s. As a matter of fact, Walearic is not exactly the same as Balearic. Matsumto was inspired by the vague concept of Balearic which crossovers any genres, and coined the new genre Walearic under his own aesthetics. As you may know, the demand for Japanese vinyls recorded in 70s & 80s has been rising among the collectors worldwide. This guide book will be the ultimate tool for them to dig the discs.

oh sweet just threw that in my cdjapan order. lotta porn on that website.

it came !!!

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.

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.

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

ysi that tape? mine didn't come with one

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

Totally delving into it tonight.

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

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?

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

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

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

ffs trackLIST

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.

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

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.

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!

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!

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?

Social media... I mean, streaming services.

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

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

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

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!

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

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?

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

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

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

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.

gnarly!

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

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

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

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

That clip sounds completely amazing! Thanks

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🕸

this is absolutely incredible

do believe the hype.

Yep

cosign