An unreleased album by Yasuaki Shimizu, dating back to 1984, is to get its first official release later this month.
Kiren features seven tracks from the cult Japanese new wave artist, taking in elements of jazz and synth pop. Set for release on CD and vinyl, as well as digitally, physical copies will come with liner notes by Japanese record collector and DJ Chee Shimizu, who’s described the album as one of Yasuaki’s "most energetic works." Watch a new video for album cut ‘Shiasate’ above.
Produced alongside the late Aki Ikuta, Kiren was made two years after Shimizu’s classic Kakashi album, which was reissued by New York label Palto Flats in 2017. Shimizu was also part of the group Mariah, whose 1983 album Utakata No Hibi was also a key record in Japan’s 1980s experimental music scene and saw a reissue, also via Palto Flats, in 2015.
Palto Flats will release Kiren on February 25, 2022.
