“Chapters” is the captivating debut album by hotly tipped Japanese multi-instrumentalist and producer Anchorsong, on Tru Thoughts. BBC Radio 1′s new music guru Huw Stephens, who has heartily championed Anchorsong since seeing him at SXSW in 2009, recently lifted the lid on the LP with an upfront play of the music, fuelling the buzz for this stunning new material. First single “Ghost Touch” / “Plum Rain” is gaining rapturous early tastemaker feedback for its fresh and punchy yet deep and organic sound.
Originally from Tokyo, Anchorsong – aka Masaaki Yoshida – moved to London in 2007, via a stint in New York. He has amassed a worldwide following for his hook-laden, idiosyncratic and energetic music, built from multiple layers of live instrumentation and electronic production; his ability to translate this into a thrilling live spectacle further sets him apart.
An addictive listen, “Chapters” reveals more with each play, fusing diverse influences including rock, hip hop and electronica, with every note – from beats right through to strings – played by accomplished multi-instrumentalist Yoshida himself. Attention-grabbing opener “Split” demonstrates a key compositional technique: several instruments (in this case guitar, organ, sitar, Rhodes & shamisen) playing an identical phrase in turn. This can also be found on the incredibly infectious “Darkrum”, “The Blacksmith” and “Before The Apple Falls”. The two digital single tracks display a great range of feeling, with a glimpse of dark underbelly in the highly percussive, edgy beat of “Ghost Touch”, whose spookiness is compounded by Anchorsong’s fancy for using guitar effects, especially overdrive/distortion, to subvert the sound; and evocative beauty in “Plum Rain”, written in Japan during the rainy season – the rich dynamic and non-dynamic textures are shot through with the piano melody, drenching the listener in the atmosphere of that liquid Japanese afternoon.
Tracklisting:
01. Split
02. At The Hyatt
03. Darkrum
04. Plum Rain
05. Ornaments
06. The Blacksmith
07. Gingko
08. Before The Apple Falls
09. Blocks
The album Anchorsong “Chapters” (Tru Thoughts) is going to be released November 25, 2011.
