Product Description
Contents Introduction In recent years, Japanese 70s and 80s City Pop and Japanese AOR, often referred to as JAPANESE AMERICANA, have been attracting keen attention from music fans overseas. Now, guitarist/arranger Makoto Matsushita's three solo albums from the 1980s, originally released on MOON RECORDS, are being re-released! *Newly remastered audio *Bonus tracks included *Commentary by Makoto Matsushita himself *SHM-CD *Original paper jacket packaging Stylish and meticulous arrangements, perfectly calculated vocal work, and flawless performances by top-notch musicians. A landmark debut album! "FIRST LIGHT," a masterpiece of Japanese AOR that pursued the finest pop music and remains widely listened to today, is being released in its original paper jacket packaging! This release will feature the original jacket. Furthermore, an alternate version of the popular song "September Rain" is also included. Participating Musicians Makoto Matsushita (vo, g, Synth, perc) Kazuo Shinoda (kbds) Masato Matsuda (kbds) Yasuo Tomikura (b) Masahiro Miyazaki (ds) Hidetoshi Yamada (kbds) Makoto Kimura (perc) Susumu Kazuhara (flh) EVE (back-vo) Eiji Uchiyama (recording, mixing) Media Reviews and More In recent years, Japanese 70s and 80s City Pop and Japanese AOR have been called JAPANESE AMERICANA and are attracting keen attention from music fans overseas. Makoto Matsushita's masterpiece "FIRST LIGHT," one of the finest examples of Japanese AOR sound in which he pursued the ultimate in pop music, is being re-released and is still widely listened to both domestically and internationally! Stylish and meticulous arrangements, perfectly calculated vocal work, and flawless performances by top-notch players. A landmark debut album! (C)RS
About the Artist: At 18, he enrolled in Nem Music Academy, majoring in guitar and studying music theory, composition, and arrangement. At 19, he began working professionally as a stage musician, performing in over 500 shows in four years. At 22, he sound-produced and arranged Mai Yamane's "TASOGARE," which led to his studio work. Since then, he has continued to be active at the heart of the Japanese pop music scene as an arranger, producer, and guitarist, with countless works to his credit. As an artist, he has released three solo albums: "First Light," which is receiving significant re-evaluation as a masterpiece of Japanese AOR, as well as "THE PRESSURES AND THE PLEASURES" and "QUIET SKIES." In addition to his band activities with "AB'S," "Paradigm Shift," "Future Days," "Groove Weather," "Breath by Breath," and "Rainey's Band," he is also actively involved in ambient music and total improvisation. They are also actively engaged in exploring new sounds.
