Fuyü-Kükan (浮遊空間 ) by Tomoko Aran ‎- 1983

Tomoko Aran (亜蘭知子) is a singer-songwriter born in 1958, from Aomori prefecture, Japan. Like many City Pop artists, her interest was in music began as a child after being exposed to American music, for her in particular, the music of Cliff Richard. Since then she started translating the lyrics of her favorite songs by Elton John, T.Rex, The Beatles, and many more, which developed into a passion for songwriting. At the age of 19, she was introduced to producer Daikoto Nagoto(長戸大幸), and joined his production company, Being Co., Ltd. Since then she's built her career as a songwriter composing singles for artists like singer & actor, Junko Mihara(三原 じゅん子), as well the summer rock band, TUBE. On top of that, she also put out solo albums of her own, 9 in total. Her most popular, especially over the internet, was her 1983 release, Fuyü-Kükan(浮遊空間).

This album was produced by Daiko Nagato and Masatoshi Nishimura, who you might know from his collaboration with Harry Hosono on his electronic album, SFX, and with the supergroup, Friends of Earth, which included Nishimura, Hosono, and even the Godfather of Funk, James Brown. Nishimura also has the help of his backing band, Fence of Defence, starring rock guitarist Kenji Kitajima(北島健二) & Drummer Wataru Yamada(山田わたる). Fuyi-Kukan also features saxophonist, Toshihiko Furumura (古村利彦), from The Fuse, backing band of rockstar Shogo Hamada(浜田省吾), jazz bassist Masao Nakajima(中島正雄), and South Korean singer, Ji Sook (서지숙), who goes by Mizuhara Akiko (水原 明子) in Japan. The album features compositions by Nishimura, singer-songwriter Tetsuro Oda(織田哲郎), and composer Masanori Sasaji (笹路正徳)

Fuyu Kukan was one of the many City Pop albums that received new life and international fame in the modern era thanks to the magic of the Youtube algorithm. It was recently sampled by popular Canadian singer, The Weekend, in his new single Out of Time. The album will also be receiving a remaster this month.

THE MUSIC

1. Body To Body ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Lonely Night⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. I’m In Love ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. Je Re N Ma (Dilemma)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. Midnight Pretenders⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
6. Summer Tapestry(ひと夏のタペストリー)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
7. Hannya (般若)⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
8. Bye Bye Yesterday⭐⭐⭐⭐
9. Baby, Don’t You Cry Anymore ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

THE VERDICT 

Fuyu-Kukan simultaneously feels like an 80s time capsule and yet still boundary-pushing, blending elements of New Wave, disco, and techno into each song, all complemented by Aran's lush sensuous voice.  Essential City Pop numbers like I'm in Love and Midnight Pretenders, provide a smooth and mellow sound that blends R&B and synth-pop perfectly. Body To Body & Lonely Night are epic new wave tracks with some rocking guitar riffs and groovy saxophone solos. Summer Tapestry is the perfect electro-dance track for a poolside party. The ending song, Baby Don't You Cry Anymore, is an epic sentimental piece that gradually evolves into a power ballad. 

Even the really experimental songs are still extremely catchy, like Dilemma, which perfectly encapsulates the feeling of being stuck in a high-stress office environment, with its quirky ambient noises of busy typewriters and frogs(?) accompanied by chiptune synths. Hanya is the other off-kilter song with heavy metal guitar riffs on top of a funky electronic beat that sounds like a tame song from a Nina Hagen album, and that's saying a lot! My Japanese is a bit rusty, but I do know the term Hanya actually refers to a type of mask they use in play and Shinto rituals that are known to symbolize the souls of women who have become demons due to obsession or jealousy. Considering the title and the time period, the song may be a commentary on how young women get corrupted by the excessive debauchery of the Buble Era nightlife. 

Tomoko Aran manages to offer the right balance of fresh ideas and familiar feel-good vibes with Fuyü-Kükan. Whether you're looking for something avant-garde or looking for the next groovy dance track to move to, Fuyü-Kükan has something great to offer. Make sure you get the 2022 rerelease that contains remastered songs and a bonus alternate take of Dilemma.