Absolutely astonishing bedroom music by Utena Kobayashi
I know, the video leaves much to be desired; some woman in the dark with her Christmas decoration lights still on, sitting behind an Apple computer, singing. But boy, the music totally makes up for it, don’t you think?
I can’t find much information on Utena Kobayashi on the internet. I guess she is what connoisseurs of Japanese indie call a ‘bedroom composer’, a musician making her or his music literally in her or his own bedroom. The – by me, at least – much revered Smany is an example. Biollante is another.
Kobayashi’s album Vatonse, just out, is a, exquisite affair. While most bedroom composers lean heavily on ambient and electronic music, her inspiration seems to come mostly from classical music. She sings like a choir soloist and mixes this with music á la Bach, David Sylvian, Holger Czukay and some Talking Heads. This is not to say she doesn’t have her own unique sound.
I find it absolutely astonishing. What a find. Thanks, as often, to my friend Toyokazu Mori. (PB)
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