Released on Chee Shimizu’s 17853 Records, Tam ~ Message to the Sun ~ is a collection of organic music from Kyoto space jam band SOFT and JUZU aka Moochy. Recorded in Trinidad and Tobago with steel pan performances from Calypso / Soca legend Earl Brooks, the sound of the album is something like a Japanese, Caribbean, Global fusion with a subtle dubwise flavor that leans more towards balearic beat than reggae. “Rebirth” also features the sitar playing of Indo-Trinidadian pioneer Mungal Patasar, who is credited as the first to combine the sound of steel-pan and sitar. The extended, jam-like compositions develop naturally and there’s a shared history and influence of jazz and deep psychedelia here as well. Highly recommended for fans of the “Mellow” section of Chee Shimizu’s Obscure Sound disc guide, ’80s jazz fusion, and the groovier sides of krautrock (think Guru Guru, Embryo, Kraan). Also, be sure to check out our Record Stores We Love feature on Chee Shimizu’s Physical Store.
Recommended – Full Listen
XX Bunri
XY1 Ichigoichie
XY2 Lunar
YX Rebirth
YY Landing
Soft : Ucon (Bass), SiMiZ (Guitar), Pon2 (Drums), Pretty (Percussions), Sab (Synthesizer) & Tama (Trumpet)
Horn arrangement & played by Shohei “YangBo” Kawamoto
Recording Engineer : Yoichi Watanabe (Trinidad) & Tadashi Kondo a.k.a. KND
Remastering for Vinyl : Hiroshi Shiota 東京録音
Artwork : Matsuri Uchida
Design : QOTAROO
Produced by Takashige “JAKAM” Miyawaki