Green—Hiroshi Yoshimura

Too often ‘ambient music’ is defined by what it lacks. Describing it as music without standard melody, rhythm and structure provides a cursory reference point to pop and classical music for the unfamiliar. Unfortunately this overlooks the many truly engaging ambient records which contain creative, nuanced and powerful artist statements.

GREEN, the recently remastered and reissued ambient classic by Hiroshi Yoshimura, is one such record. Like a lot of ambient music, GREEN is mellow enough for heavy rotation while logging mandated work-from-home hours but it stands up to deeper listening as well. 

Yoshimura, who died in 2003, was a key figure in the kankyo ongaku, or environmental music, genre of Japanese ambient. GREEN is one of many Japanese records of various niche genres to receive a high quality reissue on Light in the Attic Records (LITA) in the last few years.

Even for the reissue specialists at LITA, the number of rare Japanese titles released is impressive. One thing many of the reissued titles have in common is they have recently found massive new audiences on YouTube, thanks to the all-powerful and mysterious recommendation algorithm. This reissue offers listeners who may have inadvertently discovered Yoshimura while working or studying a chance to experience his work more fully. The album is now available on streaming services and the vinyl is expected to ship in June. On Amazon HD, my preferred service, the album is available in 24-bit high resolution. 

The track titles share a very natural theme, however, the fact that they are printed in capital letters and all contain at least one double “E” (‘CREEK’, ‘FEEL’, ‘SHEEP’, etc.) reflect the polished, urban aesthetic of the album. This contrast sets expectations for the layers contained in the music. Yoshimura recorded GREEN using Yamaha MX synthesizers, which according to the LITA release webpage, are known for their crisp digital tones to achieve a warm, almost cozy sound.  

Hiroshi Yoshimura, photo by Taizo Ochiai

The opening track, ‘CREEK’, nicely encapsulates the overall feel of the album. A quickly paced, wobbly percussive groove layered over light and unhurried background chords imparts a sense of optimistic energy with a touch of jittery unease. An apt reflection of how many of us feel after months of social distancing.  

The title track is also a highlight. It casually grooves, in the sense that it is beautifully easy to become absorbed in the melody. As background music it provides gentle propulsion for a task at hand but may also lead to many minutes lost just staring out the window. 

The timing of this release is felicitous because GREEN suits these homebound, wistful and uncertain times. Yoshimura’s practical purpose of creating environmental music keeps this album relatively grounded and light on the pretense. In creating a soundtrack for a space that is peaceful on the surface and interesting deep below then It succeeds. It’s the depth that gives the album it’s staying power. It allows listeners to blissfully ignore external noise and chaos while just barely acknowledging its existence. A soundtrack for a safe space in an unsafe world.

The sound quality of the digital release is a much needed upgrade for anyone streaming GREEN via YouTube. Seasoned audiophiles will be pleased to find the sound meets the high standard set by other Light in the Attic reissues. In terms of dynamics, GREEN is tame, especially compared to symphonic material, so it should make light work for even the most entry level audiophile systems. The mix contains impressive spatial separation and abundant detail for what could have easily been a primitive production. The digital release creates high expectations for the forthcoming vinyl.

One interesting note: the original record (the version on YouTube) contained outdoor effects like chirping birds and crickets; they were removed during the remastering process.

GREEN is a cultural nugget and a treasure for Ambient fans and Light in the Attic collectors alike. The ambient-curious should also take note. After decades of obscurity, GREEN is now an audiophile approved, heartily recommended gateway into Japanese ambient.