{"title":"Artist: Masahiro Sugaya","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"horizon-volume-1-masahiro-sugaya-lp","title":"Horizon, Volume 1","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eKEY FEATURES\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst time on vinyl and digital\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eRemastered from original tapes in cooperation with the artist\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eLiner notes in Japanese and English by Masahiro Sugaya and Spencer Doran \/ Maxwell August Croy\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003e1xLP pressed on Clear Vinyl and Classic Black Vinyl\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eRELEASE DESCRIPTION\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlmost completely unknown in the West, \u003cb\u003eMasahiro Sugaya\u003c\/b\u003e has been composing and producing music since the 1980s in an exceptionally wide range of fields and practices. From arrangements for musical acts like the acoustic guitar duo Gontiti to acousmatic diffusion at spaces like Paris’s Groupe de Recherches Musicales (\u003cb\u003eGRM\u003c\/b\u003e), Sugaya's reach is almost exhaustive in its breadth, but it was in the 80s bubble-era kankyō ongaku scene that he first found his musical voice. \u003cb\u003eHorizon, Volume 1\u003c\/b\u003e presents a window into these works, culled from Sugaya’s early scores for the experimental Tokyo theatre group \u003cb\u003ePappa Tarahumura\u003c\/b\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a teenager, Sugaya would visit the avant-garde hub of record\/book shop Art Vivant run by \u003cb\u003eSatoshi Ashikawa\u003c\/b\u003e of \u003cb\u003eSound Process\u003c\/b\u003e, guided by Ashikawa’s recommendations into the worlds of experimental composition, jazz and ethnographic music. It was there he also met musician \u003cb\u003eYoshio Ojima\u003c\/b\u003e—the two would become close friends and contemporaries, working within a circle of Tokyo musicians that also included \u003cb\u003eMidori Takada\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003cb\u003eHiroshi Yoshimura,\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003eSatsuki Shibano\u003c\/b\u003e. Ojima, an early adopter of new musical technology, would introduce Sugaya to the possibilities of composing with computers, synthesizers, and samplers, which would become a trademark in Sugaya's early works. Surprisingly, the sound sources on Horizon are entirely digital, showcasing Sugaya’s ability to organically recreate complex musicianship approaches via keyboard using hyper-realistic samples. Much like Ojima and Yoshimura’s work, the results eschew electronic music’s usual coldness for something more warm and inviting, the feeling of a human in deep conversation with technology.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFlourishing within the boom of experimental theatre subsidized by corporations during the bubble economy, Pappa Tarahumura forged a unique dream-like style that merged performance art, modern dance, and fantastical installation-like stage sets. Sugaya fashioned multiple soundtracks for their productions in collaboration with director \u003cb\u003eHiroshi Koike\u003c\/b\u003e, the first two of which, \u003cb\u003eThe Pocket Of Fever\u003c\/b\u003e (熱の風景) and \u003cb\u003eMusic From Alejo\u003c\/b\u003e (アレッホ - 風を讃えるために), he self-released in 1987 on cassette, handing them out at Tarahumara performances. The third, \u003cb\u003eThe Long Living Things (Zoo Of The Sea)\u003c\/b\u003e (海の動物園) followed in 1988 as a CD on Yukio Kojima’s \u003cb\u003eALM records\u003c\/b\u003e. Aside from his brief inclusion on Light in the Attic’s \u003cb\u003eKankyō Ongaku: Japanese Ambient, Environmental \u0026amp; New Age Music 1980-1990\u003c\/b\u003e (compiled by Empire of Signs’ Spencer Doran), Horizon presents this work outside of Japan for the first time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTRACKLIST \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHorizon (Intro)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFuture Green\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAfternoon of the Appearing Fish\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGrain of Sand by the Sea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStraight Line Floating in the Sky\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWind Conversation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eUntil the End of the World\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHorizon (Outro)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eLISTEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eAvailable on Desktop \u0026amp; Mobile\u003c\/em\u003e\u003ciframe style=\"border-radius: 12px;\" src=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/embed\/album\/0Tvs4LpQSHSH1gcfVdF3WV?utmsource=generator\" width=\"100%\" height=\"352\" loading=\"lazy\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e","brand":"Masahiro Sugaya","offers":[{"title":"LP \/ Clear","offer_id":42545396940991,"sku":"EOS02-CL","price":36.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"LP \/ Black","offer_id":42497127383231,"sku":"EOS02-BK","price":32.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0620\/6947\/3471\/files\/EOS02-MasahiroSugaya-Horizon_Volume1.jpg?v=1695939558"},{"product_id":"the-long-living-things-masahiro-sugaya-lp","title":"The Long Living Things [Japanese Import]","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eKEY FEATURES\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst time on vinyl\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003e1xLP pressed on Black Vinyl\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003e1988 album from Japanese New-Age \/ Ambient composer\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe second track was included in \"Kankyo Ongaku\" compilation\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eRELEASE DESCRIPTION\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMasahiro Sugaya, his name is now known worldwide as one of the leading artists of Japanese ambient, which has been re-evaluated worldwide in recent years. The Long Living Things album was released in 1988 by Japanese musician\/composer Masahiro Sugaya for the performing arts company \"Pappa Tarahumara\", which he also belonged to, and has long been overlooked by all but a few enthusiastic music lovers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eP-VINE is honored to have the honor of reissuing this great work on vinyl for the first time in the world. The second track ‘Umi No Sunatsubu’ was included in the Grammy-nominated album \"Kankyo Ongaku\" released by Light In The Attic. Minimalistic, interwoven soft sequences give his music a feeling of floating and warming, this sound represents the very essence of the Japanese ambient. His compilation album \"Horizon, Volume 1\" was released on the label Empire Of Signs, which produces some Japanese ambient reissues, such as Hiroshi Yoshimura's Music From Nine Postcards and Inoyama Land's Commissions: 1977-2000.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTRACKLIST \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eカメレオン・ガーデン\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e海の砂粒\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e帽子とマンドリン\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e空にとけるサーカス\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e笑うペンギン\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e青\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e世界の果てまで\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e布の動物園\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eLISTEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAvailable on Desktop \u0026amp; Mobile\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Masahiro Sugaya","offers":[{"title":"LP \/ Black","offer_id":43442330140863,"sku":"PLP-7475-BK","price":41.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0620\/6947\/3471\/files\/unnamed_61_974x_db5b8d77-9802-4ac8-9b96-06884012e3a9.jpg?v=1718405294"},{"product_id":"masahiro-sugaya-the-pocket-of-fever-lp","title":"The Pocket of Fever","description":"\u003ch3\u003e** This is a PRE-ORDER. Please read our policies before ordering. Check our website for Est. Ship Date.\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eKEY FEATURES\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eOriginally conceived in 1987 as a cassette release\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eFirst time available on vinyl\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003eInspired by figures such as Hiroshi Yoshimura, Midori Takada, and Brian Eno\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cb\u003e1xLP pressed on Black Vinyl\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eRELEASE DESCRIPTION\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMasahiro Sugaya is a Japanese composer with a prolific career in music for film, television, and the performing arts. Renowned for crafting soundscapes that invite deep contemplation, his music blends synthesizers, field recordings, and traditional Japanese instruments, achieving a delicate balance between minimalism, ambient, and folk influences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn addition to his experimental compositions, Sugaya has been a pivotal figure in Japanese television and cinema. He collaborated with NHK, Japan’s national broadcaster, creating soundtracks for documentaries and educational programs that explored both the everyday and the extraordinary. His ability to translate emotions and landscapes into sound has made him stand out in projects that connect the visual and the musical.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn cinema, Sugaya worked as an arranger for GONTITI, the iconic Japanese guitar duo, and contributed to soundtracks for renowned directors such as Hirokazu Koreeda. His work captures the stillness and subtleties of everyday life, resonating deeply with audiences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Pocket of Fever, originally conceived in 1987 as a cassette release for Pappa Tarahumara’s avant-garde dance company, merges traditional Japanese elements with modern compositional techniques, reflecting the fluid and dreamlike choreography. This reissue marks the first time the album has been made available on vinyl, offering a fresh perspective on its intricate layers of sound. The album shifts between nostalgia, as in Green of the Future, and the poetic hypnosis of Conversation with the Wind. These pieces invite the listener to explore deeply evocative and intimate sonic landscapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOver three decades later, this album remains essential for fans of ambient and experimental music. Inspired by figures such as Hiroshi Yoshimura, Midori Takada, and Brian Eno, The Pocket of Fever endures as a timeless masterpiece, inviting introspection and the appreciation of its serene beauty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTRACKLIST \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e水ー 1 Water-1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e未来の緑 Future's Green\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e熱の風景 Scenery of Heat\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e都会の屋根の上 Above the City's Rooftops\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e水ー 2 Water-2\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e風の会話 Conversation of the Wind\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e草木のバラッド Ballad of Grass and Trees\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eホライゾン Horizon\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eLISTEN\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAvailable on Desktop \u0026amp; Mobile\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Masahiro Sugaya","offers":[{"title":"LP \/ Black","offer_id":43903475876031,"sku":"AMS001-BK","price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0620\/6947\/3471\/files\/AMS001_-_Masahiro_Sugaya_-_The_Pocket_of_Fever.jpg?v=1734155197"}],"url":"https:\/\/helixsounds.com\/collections\/artist-masahiro-sugaya.oembed","provider":"Helix Sounds","version":"1.0","type":"link"}