From discogs:
Born Akiko Suzuki in 1955, (Tokyo, Japan), Akiko Yano studied jazz piano in high school and recorded her first album, Japanese Girl, in 1976. To the familiar wispy, girlish voice of Japanese idoru, Yano added something different: a whimsical sense of mischief and the ability to simultaneously sing and improvise on the piano. Japanese Girl caused a sensation in the Japanese music scene, with Yano standing out from the J-pop scene of the time as something entirely original and different. After a failed marriage to Makoto Yano, the producer of Japanese Girl, she went on to become the wife and musical partner of Ryuichi Sakamoto, soundtrack auteur and former member of legendary '80s ele-pop unit Yellow Magic Orchestra. The partnership saw Yano join YMO on tour worldwide in the early '80s as support keyboardist, and she began to cultivate her own following in the US. Little Feat supported her on the West Coast, and she also participated in recordings with UK rock band Japan, led by David Sylvian (who still writes songs with Sakamoto), and Thomas Dolby. Separating from Sakamoto, she moved to New York in the '90s, where she now gigs regularly and records with a range of musicians, mostly in the jazz field.
The second album (with the dolphin) is full of interesting songs and original ideas, it's from 1977 I think, but the remainder of the discography (well so far as I know, which is not much) not so appealing.
Track 3 as an example of the nice mix of pop with more inventive elements:
ReplyDeletehttps://www12.zippyshare.com/v/no4GwwKB/file.html
https://www.sendspace.com/file/yighzq
Thanks for sharing these. I think her 4th album (from '78) has some really interesting & progressive songwriting as well.
ReplyDeleteWOW. Thank you for this. Amazing stuff.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks
ReplyDeleteThere are actually lots of very worthwhile albums in her discography. Notwithstanding her YMO companions making a number of appearances, she has collaborated with Pat Metheny, Lyle Mays, Charlie Haden and many others. She's sometimes referred to as "an Eastern Kate Bush" and when it comes to innovation and musicality, it's not a bad likeness. You'd be well rewarded if you explore her works through the years.
ReplyDelete