Haruomi Hosono - Paraiso (1977)

It goes without saying that Haruomi Hosono (細野晴臣) is one of the most eclectic composers and singer-songwriters Japan has to offer. His most famous albums fall under either Electronic/Techno-pop (Philharmony) or Tropical Exotica-inspired folk (Tropical Dandy), the album in question is an exciting and bizarre fusion of both. Paraiso is Hosono's third solo album in his "Tropical '' period, beginning with Tropical Dandy (1975), followed by Bon Voyage Co (1976). The album is credited to Haroumi Hosono and the Yellow Magic Band, which can be considered a precursor to his Yellow Magic Orchestra since it features future longtime collaborators, the late & great Yukihiro Takahashi on drums, and Ryuichi Sakamoto on keyboards. The album also features other well-known musicians like Taeko Ohnuki, Hiroshi Sato, Hiroshi Kamayasu, Tatsuo Hayashi, and Nobu Saito.

TRACKLIST

1. 
   Tokyo Rush ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Shimendoka ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Japanese Rhumba⭐⭐⭐
4. Asatoya Yunta⭐⭐⭐⭐
5. Fujiyama Mama ⭐⭐⭐
6. Femme Fatale⭐⭐⭐⭐
7. Shambhala Signal⭐⭐
8. Worry Beads⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
9. Paraiso ⭐⭐⭐⭐

THE VERDICT

Building on the influences of the previous albums, Paraiso is a collection of Exotica-infused Jazz-funk, as if  Little Feat were produced by Martin Denny, this time with an extra layer of Synthesizers to add some texture to the ambiance. The opening song "Tokyo Rush" is probably the most energetic out of the bunch.  "Femme Fatale" is another great tune that uses synths to add to the jungle ambiance, bridging the gap between lounge music and technopop. There are also some interesting covers, including a reggae rendition of an Okinawan folk song in "Asatoya Yunta" and a humorous take on the American song Fujiyama Mama, written by Jack Hammer, best known as the co-writer of "Great Balls of Fire". Overall, Paraiso proves to be a great compromise between the Tropical and Electronic eras of Hosono's career, and a great jumping point for people to get introduced to his discography pre-YMO.