Hiroshi Yoshimura: Music For Nine Post Cards Vinyl LP

Serenity as sound.Another Japanese ambient grail finally available again on vinyl, this time courtesy ofEmpire Of Signs. ThoughHiroshi Yoshimuraremains criminally unknown to most outside of his home country, his workplayed akey part in the development and history of Japanese ambient music in the 80’s.Music For Nine Post CardsisYoshimura’sdebut from 1982, a masterpiece of the genre recorded onthe minimalist setup of just a keyboard and a Fender Rhodes. Thealbum presents a calm, entrancing quality through repetition of gentle melodies, afeaturethat would become atrademark of Yoshimura’s work.Along with his contemporary and Sound Process label founder Satoshi Ashikawa (who originally released the record) Yoshimura sought to find “a new dialog between sound and space: music not as an external absolute, but as something that interlocks with a physical environment and shifts the listeners experience within it.”If you are new to the sound, or a longtime fan (especially if you likeMidori Takada,Ryuichi Sakamoto,Brian Eno,Erik Satie, etc.), Music For Nine Postcards is a timeless work that is rewarding on repeat listens. This 2018repress features fully remastered sound from the original tapes, new liner notes from Yoshimura’s widow Yoko Yoshimura, and obi strip. Well recommended.

• first ever reissue outside of Japan
• remastered sound from the original tapes
• new liner notes by Yoko Yoshimura, Spencer DoranandMaxwell August Croy
• obi strip
• music label: Empire of Signs 2018

reviewed by Otakun 03/2018

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