{"title":"Masayoshi Fujita","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMasayoshi Fujita is a highly acclaimed artist known for his unique blend of classical and electronic music. With a background in percussion, Fujita creates mesmerizing compositions using a vibraphone and various other instruments. His music has been compared to the likes of Kara-Lis Coverdale and H.Takahashi, but Fujita's style is truly one-of-a-kind.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eListening to *Masayoshi Fujita*'s music is like entering a dream-like state, as he effortlessly combines delicate melodies with subtle electronic textures. His compositions have an ethereal quality that transports listeners to another world. Whether performing solo or collaborating with other artists such as ASUNA or Taylor Deupree, Fujita's talent shines through in every note.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e*Masayoshi Fujita* draws inspiration from nature and everyday life, infusing his music with a sense of tranquility and introspection. His soundscapes evoke emotions and create an immersive experience for the listener. If you enjoy the works of Joseph Shabason or Triosk, then *Masayoshi Fujita* should definitely be on your radar.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"bird-ambience","title":"Bird Ambience","description":"\u003cp\u003eProlific Japanese vibraphonist, multi-percussionist, and composer \u003cstrong\u003eMasayoshi Fujita\u003c\/strong\u003e marks a new sonic direction with his album \u003cem\u003eBird Ambience\u003c\/em\u003e on Erased Tapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBird Ambience\u003c\/em\u003e brings several fresh changes for the artist. Until now, Fujita would separate his acoustic solo recordings from the electronic dub under his El Fog alias and experimental improvisations with contemporaries such as Jan Jelinek.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBird Ambience\u003c\/em\u003e sees him unite all of these different sides to his work for the first time, into one singular vision. He also makes a lateral leap from his signature instrument, the vibraphone, on which he created his acclaimed triptych \u003cem\u003eStories\u003c\/em\u003e (2012), \u003cem\u003eApologues\u003c\/em\u003e (2015), and \u003cem\u003eBook of Life\u003c\/em\u003e (2018), to the marimba.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe marimba takes center stage on his new album alongside drums, percussion, synths, effectors, and tape recorder.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Erased Tapes","offers":[{"title":"Clear | LP | x2.","offer_id":50384750313803,"sku":"1115903","price":29.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"Black | LP","offer_id":50384749265227,"sku":"1115902","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50384752247115,"sku":"1115901","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/80da97ea-d692-41d5-b8fb-fd1f3ee64930_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1726303189"},{"product_id":"apologues","title":"Apologues","description":"\u003cp\u003eMasayoshi Fujita, the Berlin-based Japanese vibraphone player, also known under his alias el fog came to the attention of label founder Robert Raths a few years ago. Not only because the vibraphone is an intriguing instrument, but also the way Masayoshi treats his instrument and draws ethereal and layered sounds, is what truly attracted him to Masayoshi's work. Having released more ambient-based\/electronic recordings of the vibraphone under el fog, Masa became more interested in the sound of the vibraphone itself. He started to compose acoustic pieces and released the first solo album under his real name, titled 'Stories', in early 2013. 'Apologues' sees Masayoshi for the first time use an array of instruments besides his lead instrument - such as the violin, cello, flute, clarinet, French horn, accordion, piano and snare drum played by friends, but arranged by Masa himself. \"My idea was to let those instruments express their own images or atmospheres that each instruments have by nature, or have been given in their history, and not treating them just as accompaniments of the vibraphone. Also, it was new for me to compose a song as a whole. As I wrote the vibraphone part first, I tried to hear other sounds in my head and tried to leave enough room for them and sometimes play only fundamental parts on the vibes.\" In addition to the mallets, Masayoshi often plays the vibraphone with a violin or cello bow, like on 'Tears of Unicorn' and 'Knight and Spirit of Lake'. He would also place bead strings on the vibraphone bars to create an ambient shimmer that can be heard on songs like 'Moonlight' and 'Swallow Flies High in the May Sky'. The latter was composed to let the clarinet express its characteristics and tell its story, whilst the vibraphone takes a supporting role. \"The clarinet sounds very warm and soft and very 'spring' to me\", says Masa. Inspired by \"the silence and deepness of the fog, the mountains and the gravity within\", his music has a very unique atmosphere and often creates images in the listener. 'Requiem', which Masayoshi composed for French horn, to him evokes \"images of mountains, fields and the far away\". The song 'Tears of Unicorn' was inspired by a painting which features in Hayao Miyazaki's Studio Ghibli animation 'Kiki's Delivery Service', drawn by a woman that lives in the forest. \"With this album the main idea was to evoke images, atmospheres, sceneries and stories in the listener, the images that have accumulated in myself. At the same time it was an exploration of the unexplored beauty of the vibraphone, and also a pursuit of the charm of the instrumentation and the music itself. Erased Tapes releases a lot of great stuff and naturally became my favourite label of late. And I thought it would fit well to my music.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Erased Tapes","offers":[{"title":"LP","offer_id":50467550757195,"sku":"392645","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50467551215947,"sku":"392646","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/f6231504-c242-4e46-a21c-a1f229edf7d6_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727339153"},{"product_id":"book-of-life","title":"Book Of Life","description":"\u003cp\u003eFollowing on from his acclaimed works \u003cem\u003eStories\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eApologues\u003c\/em\u003e, Berlin-based composer and vibraphonist \u003cstrong\u003eMasayoshi Fujita\u003c\/strong\u003e releases his new album \u003cem\u003eBook of Life\u003c\/em\u003e, the third installment in a trilogy of solo vibraphone recordings, via Erased Tapes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWith \u003cem\u003eBook of Life\u003c\/em\u003e, Masayoshi continues his mission in bringing the vibraphone — a relatively new invention in the history of instruments often kept in the background in orchestras and jazz outfits — into the spotlight. Having trained as a drummer, Masayoshi began experimenting with the vibraphone, preparing its bars with kitchen foil or beads, playing it with the cello bow such as in \"\u003cem\u003eFog\u003c\/em\u003e,\" or using the other end of the mallets to create a more ambient texture of sound, as with the title track.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFocusing on the vibraphone in this way sets Masayoshi apart, dedicating his artistic life to celebrating this fascinating and often underappreciated instrument and making his take on ambient and modern compositional styles a unique one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBook of Life\u003c\/em\u003e sees Masayoshi expand on his compositional skills, bringing in more orchestral elements such as strings, brass, and even a choir to interact with the vibraphone. And not just any choir — members of this chorus include musical friends \u003cstrong\u003ePeter Broderick\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eHatis Noit\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cstrong\u003eDavid Allred\u003c\/strong\u003e, and \u003cstrong\u003eShards\u003c\/strong\u003e who featured on \u003cstrong\u003eNils Frahm\u003c\/strong\u003e’s latest album \u003cem\u003eAll Melody\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe instruments come to represent characters in Masayoshi’s stories, hinted at in each accompanying text contained in the album booklet, which Masayoshi recites at his live performances. LP - Black Vinyl with Download. LP+ - Limited Clear Vinyl with Download.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Erased Tapes","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50467844620619,"sku":"1037688","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50467846127947,"sku":"1037694","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/abdefd9d-6603-4ecf-a331-445799487e4a_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727342475"},{"product_id":"stories-reissue","title":"Stories (Reissue)","description":"\u003cp\u003eErased Tapes re-issue \u003cem\u003eStories\u003c\/em\u003e, the first in a trilogy of vibraphone solo albums by Berlin-based composer \u003cstrong\u003eMasayoshi Fujita\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis quietly exquisite album is like a book of illustrations, evoking scenes of natural beauty and poetic poignancy. It combines climactic crescendos laced with electronic detail and luxurious melody.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eStories\u003c\/em\u003e marks the beginning of Masayoshi’s mission in bringing the vibraphone - a relatively new invention in the history of instruments often kept in the background in orchestras and jazz outfits - into the spotlight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHaving trained as a drummer, Masayoshi began experimenting with the vibraphone, preparing its bars with kitchen foil or beads, playing it with the cello bow, or using the other end of the mallets to create a more ambient texture of sound.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFocussing on the vibraphone in this way sets Masayoshi apart, dedicating his artistic life to celebrating this fascinating and often underappreciated instrument. His take on ambient and modern compositional styles is a unique one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAvailable in two versions: LP - Black Vinyl with Download, and LP - Limited Clear Coloured Vinyl with Download.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Erased Tapes","offers":[{"title":"CD","offer_id":50468302618955,"sku":"1039445","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"LP","offer_id":50468303634763,"sku":"1039446","price":19.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/d22e6950-b8d7-439f-bbc3-d17bdc91af24_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1727346818"},{"product_id":"migratory","title":"Migratory","description":"\u003cp\u003eJapanese vibraphonist and marimba player Masayoshi Fujita returns with \u003cem\u003eMigratory\u003c\/em\u003e, his masterful new solo album, where his sonic explorations into the unknown continue.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn 2019, after 13 years of living in Berlin, Fujita returned to his native Japan with his wife and their three children, fulfilling his life-long dream of living and composing music in the midst of nature. The family found their new home in the mountain hills along the coast of Kami-cho, Hyōgo, three hours west of Kyoto.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce settled in, Fujita spent his time turning an old kindergarten into his own music studio, Kebi Bird Studio, which became the birthplace of Migratory. On his new album, the composer and producer masterfully reimagines and mesmerises with his trademark sounds of vibraphone, and resumes his experimentation with the marimba and synthesisers that he first incorporated on his 2021 album, Bird Ambience, which followed the release of his acclaimed vibraphone triptych: Stories (2012), Apologues (2015) and Book of Life (2018).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn Fujita’s ever-evolving list of collaborators, Migratory introduces vocals from Moor Mother on ‘Our Mother’s Lights’ and Hatis Noit on ‘Higurashi’, as well as shō and saxophone to its soundscapes. Whilst at a music residency in Stockholm in 2021, Fujita met Swedish shō player Mattias Hållsten. Although it was a brief encounter, the two musicians stayed in touch. During a visit to Japan, Hållsten stopped by the studio and played on three of the tracks, including the alluring album closer ‘Yodaka’, exceeding Fujita’s own expectations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnother collaborator, American poet Moor Mother asked Fujita to contribute vibraphone to her upcoming album, and in return lent her powerful voice to the Migratory’s centrepiece, Our Mother’s Lights — “it carries a kind of African and Asian vibe, a perfect match for the energy of the piece,” he adds.As with Bird Ambience, Fujita continues to be inspired by our feathered friends. The album’s title, \u003ci\u003eMigratory\u003c\/i\u003e, originates from an image that came to him of migratory birds, travelling somewhere between Africa, East Asia and Japan, imagining them hearing the music from the land underneath, and how their point of view of the world from above blurs the boundaries of music and land. Expanding on this, Fujita says: “these ideas and images were inspired by my experiences of living abroad and returning to my homeland, as well as by the artists featured on this album who also somehow travelled or lived in other countries across the boundaries, and being influenced by the music of other lands but at the same time somehow led to their roots”.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMasayoshi’s parents too made a life abroad in Thailand for over 15 years. After returning to Japan, Fujita’s mother passed away in the beginning of 2023. So he invited his father to come for a visit, to spend time with him and his grandchildren. A lifelong musician in his own right, the two of them soon found themselves holed up in Kebi Bird Studio. Fujita senior had brought his saxophone, which he played on top of the then unfinished recordings, resulting in three breathtaking pieces. The slow jazz-tinged ‘Blue Rock Thrush’ stands out, with the saxophone and marimba blending harmoniously reaching new artistic heights.Nature has always been a source of inspiration for Fujita, and on Migratory it takes centre stage. You can hear it on the album’s peaceful and considered field recordings, but most importantly, Masayoshi highlights – “nature is there as the image to be evoked by the listener from the music.” On the record’s sleeve notes, written by renowned novelist and travel writer Pico Iyer, we learn about the Japan that he hears as he sits down and listens to the music. It educates and encapsulates us, in the same way Fujita’s imaginary birds vividly depict the essence of musical migration.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Erased Tapes","offers":[{"title":"Black LP","offer_id":50531427975499,"sku":"2207200","price":23.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Clear LP","offer_id":50531428794699,"sku":"2207201","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":50531427811659,"sku":"2207199","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/e6e4c923-eb77-3852-98a8-83c96c3ac8f1_26f16aa2_thumbnail_4096.jpg?v=1728108415"},{"product_id":"forest-of-tranquility","title":"Forest Of Tranquility","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhen Japanese artist Masayoshi Fujita was invited to create the soundtrack for Expo 2025’s vast living nature installation, \u003cem\u003eForest of Tranquility\u003c\/em\u003e, he immediately envisioned a relaxing public space in which visitors could tune out the noise and restore their energies. Inside this green open-air sanctuary – visited by millions of people during the landmark Osaka event, which ran for six months – stood a central pond and 1,500 real trees, all rescued and repurposed from Expo’s former ‘70 site and other parks in Osaka.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eIt’s from this honourable commission that Fujita’s new album for Erased Tapes, \u003cem\u003eForest of Tranquility\u003c\/em\u003e, grew. Like the Japanese kankyō ongaku (environmental music) pioneers Hiroshi Yoshimura, Midori Takada and Haruomi Hosono before him, Fujita makes gentle, mind-massaging music intended to blend harmoniously with its environment\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eFujita set about deepening the listener's connection to the complementary ebbs and flows of the natural world using dynamic shifts and gentle arcs to shift the mood. The result was a living tapestry that mirrored the surrounding forest, with nonlinear patterns and textural twists and turns — creating a portal into the unexpected.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eFor Expo ‘25 visitors, this synchronicity – the forest setting intertwined with its associated sounds – would have bettered their experience of being outdoors; for at-home listeners, this synergy now takes the form of a serene transportive pod, capable of taking you anywhere you wish.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Erased Tapes","offers":[{"title":"LP - Translucent","offer_id":58468200350027,"sku":"R6107-9064","price":26.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"CD","offer_id":58468200382795,"sku":"R6107-5712","price":13.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/files\/952acb16-3036-1968-f27b-5acdde47f9d3.jpg?v=1789389585"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0867\/1120\/6219\/collections\/test_fc7a46f3_thumbnail_4096_1e6dd522-3b8e-4c3b-9a03-4dccefa70879.jpg?v=1726303153","url":"https:\/\/shop.roughtrade.com\/collections\/masayoshi-fujita.oembed","provider":"Rough Trade","version":"1.0","type":"link"}