遠い旅の同行者 [Distant Travel Companion]

Released

City pop isn’t normally considered a genre for amateurs. The most popular tracks are immaculately produced and backed by skilled session musicians, positing a perception of pop perfection. Very little low budget city pop finds its way into the hands of record collectors or on compilations from the likes of Light in the Attic, so stories like Satoshi Suzuki’s remain largely untold. Suzuki worked as an advertising agent by day, making music off the clock in his home studio. The music lacks the polish and precision of a Tokyo studio stocked with cutting edge gear, but makes up for it in raw passion. Suzuki’s plaintive singing is charming and untrained, and his low budget instruments are comparatively simple but get the job done. This is working class music with heart.

Shy Clara Thompson