Yusuaki Shimizu is an intriguing figure, who has collaborated with Ryuichi Sakamoto, Van Dyke Parks and Björk to name just a few. The reissue of ‘Music For Commercials’, now 30 years old, has been in high demand as his electronic projects from the 1980s fall under the spotlight. It is a lot of fun, if a bit frustrating when its best music doesn’t get the longer duration it deserves – because, as the title indicates, this is music for Japanese adverts. What we do get though is a glimpse of Shimizu’s talents, his flexibility between styles and a good sense of humour. The bright colours and birdsong of ‘Tachikawa’ are a nice start, before we explore reflective loops and colourful inventions at a range of speeds. Some are energetic – ‘Ka-Cho-Fu-Getsu is like a game of pinball in musical form. As I say, the only frustration is that some of the tracks aren’t longer – but it makes an unusual and vivid addition to the collection.
4 out of 5
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YUSUAKI SHIMIZU – MUSIC FOR COMMERCIALS – MADE TO MEASURE
