Toshio Matsuura | A Gentle Yet Powerful Masterpiece. Hidefumi Ino's New Work.

Toshio Matsuura | From TOKYO MOON, Aired May 5

A Gentle Yet Powerful Masterpiece. Hidefumi Ino's New Work.

TOKYO MOON, the music program for adults hosted by DJ Toshio Matsuura. It airs every Sunday night from 23:30 on InterFM 76.1MHz. We introduce "fresh" music carefully selected from around the world, and topics that stimulate the intellectual curiosity of adults. Here, we look back at the content that was just broadcast. This is a series where you can enjoy "TOKYO MOON" with your eyes and ears, by delving deeper into artists, introducing related songs, and even allowing you to purchase those songs. This week, we focus on Hidefumi Ino, who has delivered a powerful new work brimming with "vitality."

Text by MATSUURA Toshio

From Darkness to Light, with Hope for the Future

In the mid-2000s, I remember buying a 7-inch record at "Dance Music Records" (now DMR) in Shibuya. The cover art, featuring a striking image of someone playing a Rhodes piano, immediately caught my eye. The B-side contained a cover of the love theme from Kubrick's 1960 film "Spartacus," a song already known among music lovers for its rendition by Yusef Lateef, a multi-instrumentalist and composer primarily known for his saxophone and flute work. I bought it on the spot and still recall that moment.

Toshio Matsuura | A Gentle Yet Powerful Masterpiece. Hidefumi Ino's New Work. 02

That was my "encounter" with Hidefumi Ino, also known as INO hidefumi. A few years later, our collaboration began at the opening of a Japanese restaurant and lounge in London, and since then, I've invited him to perform live several times. The reason I don't ask him to perform often is that I only request him to play in situations where his music can truly "live." His music, which is as quiet yet passionate as the artist himself, is something I want only those who love music as deeply as he does to hear.

However, with his new album "New Morning," it feels as though he is stepping forward himself, aiming to deliver his message to a wider audience.

Bathing in light, with hands raised to the blue sky amidst fragrant greenery──There are many such comforting songs. This is also evident in his own words.

"The music I've always liked sings about an ordinary day.
I feel more affection for things that are lovely enough to cup in my hands than for grand, exaggerated things."

"Even if there are nights when you feel like howling at the moon, let today be the start.
If today were the last day of your life, you'd realize how brilliantly ordinary things shine.
You'd feel true gratitude from the bottom of your heart.
May each day greet a fresh morning of hope.
From darkness to light, with hope for the future."
(From INO hidefumi Dairy http://blog.innocentrecord.net/blog/)

This connects to his use of vocals, singing in Japanese, multi-tracking, and band sounds. Personally, what excited me the most was how directly the "feelings conveyed in the music" reached me.

As his recent email also states, "I hope to connect the future with a little more brightness through music," I believe this masterpiece, filled with gentle yet powerful "vitality," is the result of him confronting his music even more to overcome the lingering feelings after the earthquake.

This is a work I highly recommend listening to.

I plan to attend the live performance in June as a fan.

INO hidefumi GROUP
"NEW MORNING" INO hidefumi LIVE SET Tokyo SPECIAL SHOW!
Date | Friday, June 14
Time | Doors open 20:00, Show starts 21:00
Admission | ¥4,000 at the door (plus drink charge)
Performers | INO hidefumi GROUP
Guest | Shigeru Suzuki and more…
Venue | LIQUIDROOM
3-16-6 Higashi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-5464-0800
http://www.liquidroom.net

REVIEW | TRACK LIST

Click on the songs marked with a ★ to listen and purchase. Please install the "iTunes" software beforehand to enjoy.

V.A. "Eglo Records Vol.1"

Baths "Obsidian"

Bibio "Silver Wilkinson"

Kenny Rankin "Family"

Iron And Wine "Ghost On Ghost"

Matthew Larkin Cassell "Pieces"

Kalabrese "Independent Dancer"

V.A.
"Based On Misunderstandings Vol.1"

Mount Kimbie
"Cold Spring Fault Less Youth"

INO hidefumi "New Morning"

Yukihiro Takahashi "Saravah!"

This Week's "TOKYO MOON on iTunes"

You can purchase selected songs from those introduced so far here. Experience the joy of instantly acquiring songs that catch your interest. This time, the theme is "Enchanting Japanese Vocals," and I've picked out my personal favorites.

Click on the songs to listen and purchase.
Please install the "iTunes" software beforehand to enjoy.

Jun Miyake | Niji Wa Tohku Aired 2010.1.17

Hiroshi Kamayatsu | Have You Ever Smoked Gauloises? Aired 2010.3.28

Kingdom★Afrocks | Ichikabachikano Aired 2011.4.24

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