Album Review: Sound Of Shizuka's 'Hikari No Mae Ni' Is A Sweet, Wholesome Blend Of Lullaby And Folk | The Odyssey Online
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Album Review: Sound Of Shizuka's 'Hikari No Mae Ni' Is A Sweet, Wholesome Blend Of Lullaby And Folk

The debut project from Sound of Shizuka pioneers a new genre: kitchen-table-lullaby-folk-pop

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Album Review: Sound Of Shizuka's 'Hikari No Mae Ni' Is A Sweet, Wholesome Blend Of Lullaby And Folk

The debut album from Sound of Shizuka, 'Hikari no mae ni,' ('In front of Hikari') was conceived and delivered in tandem with the eccentric Japanese couple's first-born son, Hikari ('Light'), who made his arrival just in time for Christmas 2020. During a time of great tumult and uncertainty, amplified by the lockdowns and quarantines that are now part and parcel of daily life, an artistic tour-de-force unfolded at the kitchen table; in a quiet nook of Tokyo, in the presence of a few instruments and a selection of organic homegrown vegetables. The seasoned musical stylings of Anna Ozawa -- a triple-threat veteran of the keyboard, melodica, and vocals -- who was once the first and only Japanese member of The Slits and mentored by the legendary Ari-Up-- blossom in the presence of DJ Shota Kawai's pleasing guitar plucking and playful singing. The album defies genre, featuring poppy lullabies, piano ballads, improvisational guitar, and an overall punk-rock break-the-rules sort of convention, albeit in a cute and charming Japanese folk music sort of way.

The rough-around-the-edges, 'demo-reel' appeal of many of the songs, including 'Sayonara Natsumikan,' -- which appears to be a playful ode to a tangerine -- and 'Eien No Ai Uta', ('Forever love song') which features infectious giggling to compliment the simple, meandering lyrics is charming and touchingly sweet. Whimsical percussive elements such as xylophone and güiro add not only tonal variety but childlike wonder. One can easily imagine the happy parents serenading the baby.

'Maboroshi', for me, is a real stunner, and the stand-out track. The couple harmonizes perfectly, and one can feel the joy, hope, and longing when Ozawa sings 'kokoro' (heart,) welcoming her future child with the pure optimism unique only to a new mom.

With many songs recorded on iPhone, forgotten about, and then revisited in the presence of snacks, the project was initially meant to be just for fun, and a personal enterprise never to be shared. The happy news of Hikari's arrival brought the project to the light. I believe Sound of Shizuka is pioneering a new, experimental genre -- one where we don't fuss over sticking to a genre or striving for perfection, but allow an intimate peek into our mundane, beautifully human lives.

Stream 'Hikari no mae ni' on Bandcamp

Follow Sound of Shizuka on Instagram

Watch 'Anna Ozawa Illuminator,' a 2014 documentary featuring Anna Ozawa

SOUND OF SHIZUKAのデビューアルバム「ひかりの前に」は、2020年のクリスマスに間に合うように到着した風変わりな日本人夫婦の長男ひかりと一緒に考案され、配信されました。そして、今や日常生活の一部となっている封鎖と検疫によって増幅された不確実性、芸術的なツアー・デ・フォースが台所のテーブルで繰り広げられました。
東京の静かな場所で、いくつかの楽器と厳選されたオーガニックの自家製農産物があります。かつてスリッツの最初で唯一の日本人メンバーであり、伝説のアリアップによって指導された、キーボード、メロディカ、ボーカル楽器のトリプル脅威のベテランである小沢アンナのベテランの音楽スタイリングは、 DJ ShotaKawaiの心地よいギターの弾きと遊び心のある歌の存在。
アルバムはジャンルに逆らい、ポピーの子守唄、ピアノのバラード、即興のギター、そして全体的にパンクロックのルールを破るような慣習を特徴としていますが、キュートで魅力的な日本のフォークミュージックのような方法です。
タンジェリンの遊び心のある頌歌のように見える「さよならなつみかん」や「エイエンの愛うた」など、多くの曲のラフな「デモリール」の魅力。
シンプルで曲がりくねった歌詞を引き立たせる伝染性の笑い声が魅力的で感動的に甘いのが特徴です。
木琴やギロなどの気まぐれなパーカッシブな要素は、音色の多様性だけでなく、子供のような不思議を追加します。幸せな両親が赤ちゃんをセレナーデしていることは簡単に想像できます。
「まぼろし」は、私にとっては本当に驚異的で、傑出したトラックです。夫婦は完璧に調和し、小沢が「こころ」という言葉を歌うとき、喜び、希望、そして憧れを感じることができ、新しいお母さんに特有の純粋な楽観主義で彼女の将来の子供を迎えます。


多くの曲がiPhoneに録音され、忘れられ、軽食の前で再訪されたこのプロジェクトは、当初は楽しみのためだけのものであり、個人的な企業が共有されることは決してありませんでした。
ひかりの到着の幸せなニュースは、プロジェクトを明るみに出しました。 Sound of Shizukaは、新しい実験的なジャンルを開拓していると思います。
ジャンルや完璧さにこだわるのに煩わされることはありませんが、日常の美しく人間の生活を親密に覗き見することができます。
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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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