About this item

Japanese pianist Yumiko Morioka initially released "Resonance", her first and only solo recording, on Akira Ito's Green & Water imprint in 1987. Whilst by no means a commercial failure, the album was mostly found in the background of Japanese TV documentaries, maternity clinics and healing shops before drifting into relative obscurity.

By 1994, Morioka had relocated to America and her solo music career had given way to the joys of starting a family and her new life in California. It was, and still is, a shock for her to learn that "Resonance" had gained the attention of a new audience outside of Japan through blog posts and YouTube album uploads.

After hearing "Resonance" for the first time themselves back in early 2017, Métron Records tried for months to track Morioka down about a reissue. This news reached her at a particularly trying time in her life following the devastating loss of her home in the 2017 California wildfires.

Her home had recently been razed, destroying all of her possessions, musical equipment, scores and recordings. Morioka was lucky to escape with her life; her quick thinking neighbour raised the alarm in the middle of the night giving her just enough time to escape safely before then tragically watching her home burn to the ground.

In the aftermath, Morioka returned to Japan in an attempt to rebuild her life. She found work writing music for commercial projects and pop acts before recently opening her own chocolate shop in the Jiyugaoka neighbourhood of Tokyo - back where it all began.

TRACK LISTING

A1.Komorebi
A2. Moon Road
A3. Rainbow Gate
A4. Ever Green
A5. 潮風
B1. おだやかな海
B2. Round And Round
B3. La Sylphide / 空気の精
B4.Moon Ring
B4. 銀の船