Blue Skies Ahead

 

Haruomi Hosono, Takahiko Ishikawa, Masataka Matsutohya - エーゲ海 The Aegean Sea [MHJL-153 JPN 2020 24-Bit FLAC]

Originally released on CBS/Sony Japan in 1979, here is the last of the four albums dedicated to travel and sunnier climes, courtesy of YMO's Haroumi Hosono and chums. 

This album is a blend of sea breezy city-pop, jazz fusion interspersed with harps, mandolins and orchestral strings. Its charm and the skill of musicianship reach well beyond any initial perception of potential naffness. This is likely the best chillout album you will hear this week. I warn you, some of these mandolin melodies will remain firmly implanted in your eardrums.

This is the 2020 clear vinyl repressing with another excellent mastering job by Bernie Grundman's team. If only all modern vinyl releases were mastered and pressed with the same care.

Right, let's head down the taverna, order up a bottle of cheap retsina with an ouzo chaser and soak up all that vitamin D among those white washed buildings overlooking the deep blue Aegean. Anybody else need a holiday too?

A1  エージアン・ファンタジー 魅せられて

A2 アトランティス

A3 レゲ・エーゲ・ウーマン

A4 ミコノスの花嫁

B1 イマージュ

B2 波間の薔薇

B3 デイ・ブレイク

B4 アプロディーテの嘆き