Serenity as sound. Another Japanese ambient grail finally available again on vinyl, this time courtesy of Empire Of Signs. Though Hiroshi Yoshimura remains criminally unknown to most outside of his home country, his work played a key part in the development and history of Japanese ambient music in the 80's. Music For Nine Post Cards is Yoshimura's debut from 1982, a masterpiece of the genre recorded on the minimalist setup of just a keyboard and a Fender Rhodes. The album presents a calm, entrancing quality through repetition of gentle melodies, a feature that would become a trademark 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 listener’s experience within it." If you are new to the sound, or a longtime fan (especially if you like Midori Takada, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Brian Eno, Erik Satie, etc.), Music For Nine Postcards is a timeless work that is rewarding on repeat listens. This 2020 clear vinyl repress features fully remastered sound from the original tapes, new liner notes from Yoshimura's widow Yoko Yoshimura, and obi strip. Well recommended. 

• clear vinyl pressing
• remastered sound from the original tapes
• new liner notes by Yoko Yoshimura, Spencer Doran and Maxwell August Croy
• includes obi strip
• music label: Empire of Signs 2020

reviewed by Otakun 03/2018