Name: Iroha Ni Konpeitou
Brand: Akiko Yano

Tax rate EU

Default:19

Supplier EU

375 Media

Total Cap

Format detail

Colour details

Discogs ID

Limited edition

Colour

Format Music EU

Extended format

Extended format: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Download code

Download code: No

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Release date

2022-08-19

Format multiplier

Catalogue number

5232511

UPC / Barcode

3700604719830

Artist

Akiko Yano

Label EU

Wewantsounds

Genre EU

Jazz

Wewantsounds is a global label specializing in reissuing hard to find vinyl albums and releasing curated compilations. They work directly with the master owners to ensure that all releases are officially licensed. The label's range of music is diverse, spanning genres from Japan, the US, France, and the Middle East. Each release is carefully remastered for vinyl, preserving the original sound quality. Additionally, Wewantsounds prioritizes using original artwork whenever possible.

Akiko Yano, born as Akiko Suzuki on 13 February 1955 in Tokyo, is a renowned Japanese artist. She studied jazz piano in high school and released her first album, "Japanese Girl," in 1976. With her unique blend of a wispy, girlish voice and the ability to improvise on the piano, Yano stood out from the Japanese pop scene at that time. She gained international recognition as she toured worldwide with Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) as their support keyboardist. Yano's collaborations include working with Little Feat on the West Coast and recording with UK rock band Japan.

After separating from Ryuichi Sakamoto, her former husband and musical partner, Yano moved to New York in the '90s where she continues to perform regularly and collaborate with various musicians primarily in the jazz genre. Her music has garnered a dedicated following both in Japan and abroad.

In addition to her successful career as an artist, Yano is also known for being the mother of Miu Sakamoto alias Sister M. Her unique style has influenced many artists including Tomoyo Harada, Sketch Show, Chu Kosaka, Minako Yoshida, Cornelius, and more.

Newest Listed Items

Akiko Yano's cult second album from 1977. Wewantsounds continues its Akiko Yano reissue programme with the release of Iroha Ni Konpeitou, another superb Akiko Yano album and one of her funkiest, highlighting her unmissable singing and songwriting talents. Recorded in Tokyo and New York City, the album features a superb line up of the best musicians from both cities and sees Yano mixing Japanese pop with funk and a touch of electronics, playing a wide array of keyboards programmed by YMO synth wizard Hideki Matsutake. Iroha Ni Konpeitou is perhaps Akiko Yano's best known album in the Western world not just because of its striking front cover - a shot by famed photographer Bishin Jumonji featuring Akiko holding an inflatable dolphin (legend has it all the props and clothes were borrowed from the set of an Issey Miyake ad), but because the album is one of Akiko's funkiest ones. A slick mix of Japanese Pop and New York funk, the album was recorded in Tokyo except for the Iroha Ni Konpeitou title track which was recorded in NYC with an all-star line-up consisting of Rick Marotta, David Spinozza, Will Lee and Nicky Marrero. For the rest of the album, Akiko is accompanied by some of the best musicians from the Tokyo music scene gravitating around the groups Happy End and Tin Pan Alley: the ubiquitous Haruomi Hosono on bass, Tatsuo Hayashi on drums, Shigeru Suzuki on guitar to name just a few. Interestingly two Hosono compositions are featured on the album, Ai Ai Gasa which he recorded on his 1973 landmark debut Hosono House and Hourou originally recorded in 75 by singer and musician Chu Kosaka (on the eponymous album Horo). Last but not least Hideki Matsutake is handling the keyboard programming duties on the album as Yano is playing a wide array of keyboards: Moog IIIc, Mini Moog, String Ensemble, on top of the Fender Rhodes, Clavinet, Yamaha CP7C. Matsutake would soon become programmer in chief for YMO, touring and playing with them around the world (like Yano herself). Although the album feels very accessible and funky, there are complex keyboard layers underneath as on the first short introduction KAWAJI, a short electro fantasy, or on such tracks as Ai Ai Gasa and Kino Wa Mou on which Akiko is playing bass with her Moog, making the album a richly textured and inventive one once you scratch its surface. The tracks on the album flow effortlessly also highlighting Akiko Yano's superb songwriting and knack for creating fascinating pop song. Iroha Ni Konpeitou sounds as fresh and beautiful as when it first came out more than forty years ago and will please the growing circle of Akiko Yano fans around the world as a welcome addition to her brilliant discography.LP - This Deluxe LP edition includes remastered sound, download card plus the original 4-page insert with poster, lyrics and full line-up.

Iroha Ni Konpeitou

Music EU