***EIKO ISHIBASHI's sixth solo album, The Dream My Bones Dream, rides the rails into a partly envisioned, partly imagined past. Eiko’s previous songs-with-singing records explored the ambitions and intoxications of pop music—but never so dramatically as with The Dream My Bones Dream. Here, her songs open up into reflections upon the vast spaces that exist between people as close as family members—in other words, reflections on the things we spend our whole lives drinking and cursing about! When we’re not trying to forget what we were told about god, that is... It’s been four years since Car and Freezer, a time during which Eiko has been steadily working, writing for stage and cinema, playing live and recording (and hanging out with her no-goodnik boyfriend!). In 2016, she toured Europe and released Kouen Kyoudai (Editions Mego), a collaboration with Masami Akita. At Sinnerfama Lisbon later that year, she won the Best New Music Award for her soundtrack to The Albino’s Trees. In 2018, Black Truffle released Ichida, her collaboration with Darin Gray.On The Dream My Bones Dream, as with Eiko’s previous albums, the diverse sounds within the musical arrangement and the qualities of JIM O'ROURKE's mix are crucial to the achievement. The Dream My Bones Dream is a record of exquisite musicality and deep emotions.
LP $20.50
11/16/2018
***EIKO ISHIBASHI returns from her Imitation of Life in an all-new Car and Freezer! Ever wonder if you could make an album twice, with completely different lyrics? It’d probably help if you had two completely different languages to draw from—and for Car and Freezer, that’s exactly what Eiko did. In 2013, we introduced Eiko to the world outside of Japan by way of her first US album release. At that time, we explained that Eiko was an instrumentalist and arranger who had come into writing songs somewhat accidentally. She’s been doing so without further accident since 2006, with a series of acclaimed albums in Japan. Her previous album, Imitation of Life, was so developed lyrically that it was in essence a song cycle linked by a science-fiction narrative. This natural evolution in her writing notwithstanding, Eiko has often questioned her role as a creator of songs, seeking some way to be at peace with the song while wondering if it was right that she was the human singing them. Since each album requires its own approach, the session for Car and Freezer provided another chance. In the Spring of 2013, Eiko convened with her band—but in contrast with the previous album, she did not come prepared with arranged demos. Instead, she and the band stared unblinking at each other for DAYS, seeking to divine the elusive communal flow for her songs! No, actually, TOSHIAKI SUDO, HATANO ATSUKO, YAMMAMOTO TATSUHISA and JIM O’ROURKE all got it right away—make Eiko’s kind...
LP $19.50
11/18/2014
***Drag City presents the first domestic release of any kind from the Japanese singer-songwriter EIKO ISHIBASHI—and the first vinyl release of any kind on this already-accomplished performer. Eiko is a singer-songwriter, producer and session musician, focused on piano, but adept on drums, flute and vibraphone as well. Since 2006, she has released four pop albums and a solo piano album, all of which have been highly rated by the Japanese press. She plays at least a hundred gigs a year, including big rock festivals and European tours With an understanding of band dynamics developed through her many live shows and recordings, Eiko’s delicate, precise compositions are arranged with a dramatic-yet-humorous prog-pop sound. Eiko plays piano, vibraphone, and flute as well as nylon-string guitar, a first for her, on Imitation of Life. The flowing backgrounds she has conceived for her light, sweet melodies are captured by producer JIM O’ROURKE with a lively sense of play, which matches Eiko’s lyric concept. The lyrics in this album embody a science fiction story which brings the album to a challenging new level. Features backing from Jim O’Rourke, TOSHIAKI SUDO, TATSUHISA YAMAMOTO, and ATSUKO HATANO, as well as contributions from several guest musicians including jazz master AKIRA SAKATA. (STREET DATE - 11/19/2013)
LP $19.75
11/19/2013