“Interior” is a cutting-edge modern music group that integrates new wave, environmental music, and contemporary music, debuting in 1982 with the album “Interior” produced by Haruomi Hosono on the YEN label run by Haruomi Hosono and Yukihiro Takahashi. In 1985, under the name “Interiors”, he became the only Japanese artist in Windham Hill, a representative of new age music in the United States, and entered the world with the compilation album “Interiors”. In 1987, the album “Design” was released by Windham Hill.
After about 40 years, two masterpiece albums by “Interior(s)” will be released on vinyl, CD, and worldwide on November 27th.
Chee Shimizu, who wrote the liner notes for this album, and the compilation album “Environmental Music = KANKYŌ ONGAKU (Japanese Ambient, Environmental & We have received a comment from Spencer Dolan, who is also famous as the supervisor and music selector of “New Age Music 1980 – 1990)”.
Chee Shimizu Comment
The work left by this group in the 1980s, whose name is neat and neat, yet somehow mysterious, is reminiscent of Erik Satie’s “furniture music” and once again shines a light on it. This is of great significance even without the recent global resurgence of ambient/new age, and is a great opportunity to experience the music of this group, which can be described as a singularity in the Japanese music scene of the 1980s, in its entirety.
Spencer Dolan Comment
Interior(s)’s work, which combines technology and sophistication, remains relevant even today, and their music seems to be gliding gracefully into the future.
By transcending the typical dynamics of jazz and rock, they created a subtle soundscape that would blend comfortably into home listening.
Release information
Album “Interior” (1982 work)
Release date: November 27, 2024
Commentary: Chee Shimizu
Publisher: Sony Music Labels
CD edition
Release format: 2 CD set (Blu-spec CD2 specification)
Price excluding tax: 3,200 yen / Price including tax: 3,520 yen / Product number: MHCL-31015~31016
Click here to purchase https://Interior.lnk.to/_CD
Included songs
DISC1)
*Yen Records version “Interior” (1982 work)
01 Technobose
02 Giant Steps
03 Flamengo
04NFG
05 Reply
06 Timeless
07 Cold Beach
08 Luft
09 Ascending
10 Park
DISC2
*Windham Hill Records “Interiors” (1985)
01 Technobose
02 Giant Steps
03 Flamengo
04 Timeless
05 Hot Beach
06 Reply
07 Luft
08 Ascending
09 Park
analog record
Release format: Analog disc 30cm (transparent disc/clear vinyl specification)
Price excluding tax: 4,400 yen / Price including tax: 4,840 yen / Product number: MHJL-372
Click here to purchase https://Interior.lnk.to/_LP
Included songs
A side
01 Technobose
02 Giant Steps
03 Flamengo
04NFG
B-side
01 Reply
02 Timeless
03 Cold Beach
04 Luft
05Ascending
06 Park
*Vinyl Cutting: Katsutoshi Kitamura (Warner Music Mastering)
Album “Design” (1987 work)
Release date: November 27, 2024
Commentary: Chee Shimizu
Publisher: Pony Canyon
CD edition
Release format: 1 CD set (UHQCD specification)
PCCA-50323 ¥2,750 (tax included)
Click here to purchase https://lnk.to/INTERIORSDesignCD
Included songs
01 Gaia
02 NY 1908
03 Spring Walk
04 Shadows of You
05 River
06 Out of Tokyo
analog record
Release format: Analog board 30cm
PCJA-00164 ¥Price: 4,400 (tax included)
Click here to purchase https://lnk.to/INTERIORSDesignLP
Included songs
A side
01 Gaia
02 NY 1908
03 Spring Walk
B-side
01 Shadows of You
02 River
03 Out of Tokyo
*Vinyl Cutting: Shinya Matsushita (PICCOLO AUDIO WORKS)
Interior(s)
Mitsuru Sawamura (saxophone), who graduated from Berklee College of Music in Boston, USA, which is known worldwide for its jazz education, in 1981, was joined by Daisuke Hyuga (piano, electronics), Hideki Nonaka (guitar), and Betto, who also studied at Berklee. “Interior” is a music unit led by Tsukasa (drums). While attending school, the members studied jazz theory, contemporary music theory, cutting-edge electronic music, etc. in addition to their main instruments. The group name “Interior” was chosen by Bettoji, who felt that the interpersonal relationships portrayed in Woody Allen’s movie “INTERIOR” were similar to the atmosphere that existed among the members. In 1985, the group became a duo consisting of Daisuke Hinata and Hideki Nonaka, and the group’s name changed to “Interiors.”
Chee Shimizu
Born in Tokyo in 1971, raised in Matsumoto City, Nagano Prefecture. Active as a DJ, music selector, writer, and record producer. Started DJing in Tokyo’s underground club scene in 1993. In 2004, he started the DJ project DISCOSSESSION, introducing Italo Disco Revival and Cosmic Disco to Japan and leading the scene. Since around 2007, he has been advocating a listening style in DJ culture, which has spread both domestically and internationally.
Introducing Japanese music from the 1970s and 1980s, including those by Yasuaki Shimizu and Hiroshi Yoshimura, to the world and laying the foundation for its reappraisal. In 2008, he launched the online record shop ORGANIC MUSIC, and in 2019 he opened the physical store PHYSICAL STORE, which continues to this day. His books include “obscure sound 640 selections of Togenkyo” (2013) and “OBSCURE SOUND REVISED EDITION” (2020).
Spencer Doran
Composer, sound designer, and researcher who works in fields where different elements such as abstract electronic music, game audio design, and environmental music research are intertwined. As a member of the duo “Visible Cloaks” with Liang Carlyle, he co-produced albums such as “Reassemblage” (2017) and “serenitatem” (2019), a collaboration with Yuro Ojima and Satsuki Shibano, and has been active and passive. He has developed a non-directional, amorphous form of digital composition that can be enjoyed both visually and visually. In addition, he operates the “Empire of Signs” label and is involved in activities such as rekindling global interest in Hiroshi Yoshimura, a pioneer of environmental music, and in 2019 released the compilation “Environmental Music = KANKYŌ ONGAKU (Japanese Ambient, Environmental & New Age Music 1980 – 1990)” was nominated for the 2020 Grammy Award in the Best Historical Album category. In 2023, he worked on the audio direction and interactive score for the “PlayStation 5” title “SEASON: A letter to the future”. Both as a composer and a researcher, his work deals with concepts such as human-digital hybrids, ambient sound design, feedback loops of Eastern and Western artistic influences, and the radiant sheen of hyper-realism.
