Wave Notation 3: Erik Satie 1984 cover

Wave Notation 3: Erik Satie 1984

Composer
Released

In 1977, Japanese shop owner Satoshi Ashikawa hosted a recital of Erik Satie’s then-obscure piano music, which – quiet though it may have been – proved to be the Big Bang for the Japanese ambient/environmental music boom in the years ahead. Ashikawa’s Sound Process imprint was perfect across three releases before his untimely death at the age of 30: Hiroshi Yoshimura’s Music For Nine Post Cards, his own Still Way, and pianist Satsuki Shibano’s album of Erik Satie piano pieces. Shibano has made a career out of interpreting Satie’s inscrutable work, which is evident in her considered touch on display here, her willingness to let the jarring moments land, her steadiness, elucidating Satie’s melodies in such a manner so that it still feels like the godfather of ambient is present.

Andy Beta

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