Posted on May 14, 2009 - by Mark Zonda

Yano Lessons!

Sometimes I look at this blog and I wonder: how could it happened that we never ever talked about JPop? I know… I know… As long as there’s someone around with a fistful of catchy melodies starting to sing out of tune in his strange little alien idioma you get a strange look in your face and the next thing you do is…

a) Walk out of the door
b) Starting a casual conversation on cats and weather
c) Smash the stereo down

Till these blokes are out of the room talking to the pieces of a broken radio we’ll get the chance to talk about… AKIKO YANO! This nice girl could be a very good introduction to our Japanes World, since she’s living in NY since a lot, and she’s even that poppish at all! Abstract pop, jass, dixie, dub à-la-studioone, blues, reggae, Akiko was always surrounded by visionary mates and producers (Towa Tei, Yoshinori Sunahara, Thomas Dolby, Yngwie Malmsteen, The Chieftains, Little Feat, Pat Metheny, David Sylvian) always trying to keep it clean with some little sudden sparks at hand. Well now. Try to ignore for a moment that Akiko was the beautiful wife of Ryuichi Sakamoto, and that Sakamoto was never been able to provide us a good pop album still their divorce on 2002.

Forgetting silly naif esperiments like “Night Train Home” , we can rush directly on the energic plain radio pop of tracks like “N.Y.C.” and the sweet sweet “Presto”, pure nippop on perfect anime style.

So, definetly. What’s up with that girl with her squeeky voice always bugging so hard over the other intruments? I guess 30 albums and the amazing will to keep it so bright, cheerful and enthusiastic after 45 years of music. I don’t care how xenomusiphobic you are. Come back for a moment, stop jibbering nonsense, put your eyes off that broken radio, and give Akiko Yano a warm applause. She deserves it.

Akiko Yano – “Highland”

Waiting for our sight:

• What Will Replace MTV? (15)
• Our last year of independent? (7)
• Indie O’Clock: Tiny Tide and Nothing Meets All (7)
• Funny Little Bunny (6)
• Christmas Indie Ep from Japan (6)