Thursday 17 December 2009

Psychedelic Folk from Hako Yamasaki


Hako Yamasaki didn’t have a lasting commercial career in Japan, but she did leave behind some of the best forlorn and depressing pop songs from the Japan’s 1970s music scene. Hako had one of those haunting, lingering voices that works its way into the musical arrangements of her songs.

I am a little surprised that the New-Weird America crowd has not picked up on her psychedelic tinged tunes the way they have other artists from the same period. I have no doubt that she had an influence on the Japanese scene that would develop decades later (I first learned of her existence from a record store clerk in Tokyo, who was kind enough to show me some unsung Japanese artists), and hopefully a rediscovering of her music will take place.

You can download her entire record from The Flying Teapot, a very nice music blog that generally covers Japan. Thankfully, the record was re-released on CD but like most imports, it fetches a rather high price. Good luck finding the original vinyl.
Shiroi Hana (from "Tsunawatari")


Himawari (from "Tsunawatari")

9 comments:

  1. Hako is my cousin..... I have 2 of her original vinyl albums!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Do you still have the vinyl?

      Delete
    2. Your cousin is awesome! I discovered her today and I can't stop listening. Please thank her when you see her. She makes the world better.

      Delete
  2. "Didn't have a lasting commercial career in Japan.." wtf are you talking about? She has put out 21 albums in the period 1975-2009, and, as of 2016, is still performing at the age of 59!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Would you be willing to sell the vinyl. Large question I know...if so my email is ashmartin815@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Terima kasih atas informasi nya...
    Kunjungi juga link saya ya !!!!
    Saling Berbagi, Kunjungi Juga Lapak Saya Ya Gan....
    LAPAK BERITA
    PREDIKSI TOGEL
    NONTON BOKEP
    VIDEO BOKEP
    DOMINO99
    PREDIKSI SEPAKBOLA
    NONTON BIOSKOP
    CARA BERMAIN BANDARQ
    LIVE HASIL BOLA

    ReplyDelete
  5. Kunjungi juga link saya ya !!!!
    Saling Berbagi, Kunjungi Juga Lapak Saya Ya Gan....
    TEXASQQ
    TEXASQQ
    TEXASQQ
    TEXASQQ

    ReplyDelete
  6. Saling Berbagi, Kunjungi Juga Lapak Saya Ya Gan....
    PARISBOLA
    PARISBOLA

    ReplyDelete