Haruomi Hosono Treated to Extensive Reissue Series
Published: May 23, 2018
As originally published by Brock Thiessen on Exclaim!
While a true music legend in his homeland, Haruomi Hosono still remains a relative unknown here in North America. Thankfully, that's been starting to change in more recent years, and Light in the Attic will be bringing new attention to the Happy End/Yellow Magic Orchestra pioneer with a much-needed archival reissue campaign.
Today LITA announced the label will be reissuing a series of groundbreaking albums from the now 70-year-old Hosono from various points in his lengthy career.
These include his stone-cold classic 1973 debut solo album Hosono House, 1978's tropically inclined Paraiso, that same year's landmark electronic effort Cochin Moon, 1982's electro-pop-flirting Philharmony and 1989's avant-pop/techno-twisting Omni Sight Seeing. And yes, these will all be arriving on vinyl, as well as on CD.
While a few of these albums have been reissued on vinyl in more recent years in Japan, this LITA series will mark the first time any of these albums have been officially released here in North America. Omni Sight Seeing has also never been issued on vinyl period.
In a statement, LITA had this to say of Hosono and the reissues:
From the groundbreaking folk rock of Happy End and the pioneering techno pop of Yellow Magic Orchestra, to the countless influential solo works that have touched on exotica, funk, country, electronic, ambient, and everything in between.
Light in the Attic is beyond proud to present a comprehensive archival series of Hosono's key albums from throughout his solo career.
Mac DeMarco also provided a statement about Hosono, saying, "Hosono has been the main reason I've continued making music since I was like 19."
Pre-orders for all the reissues are now live over on the LITA website, including a few bundle options. Hosono House and Cochin Moon will arrive on black and colour vinyl and CD on September 28, while Paraiso, Philharmony and Omni Sight Seeing will come out on CD and black vinyl on August 10.
In addition to the reissue series, Hosono will be playing his first-ever UK shows as a solo act in June as part of Light in the Attic's 16th anniversary celebrations. Hosono will be playing London's Barbican Centre on June 23 and Brighton's Old Market on June 25. The Lodnon show will also feature Willie Thrasher and Linda Saddleback, as well as Acetone.
You can check out a new promo video for the Hosono reissue series below, where you'll also find some highlights from the albums being reissued.
