Tsugutoshi Goto
Here he is, the man himself! I briefly mentioned his name on my Mioko Yamaguchi post, and now is already time to introduce THE guy.
Session musician, composer, and producer for a great number of records, from Fusion to City Pop, including Mioko Yamaguchi, (the also great and composer too) Taeko Ohnuki [should I post about her here? I at least think that her 80's phase is a little underrated], Rajie, Mari Iijima, among hundred others. Also worth mentioning, this list also includes Jackie Chan and Scatman John.
Anyway, not content in just working for other people, Gotou-san decided to spread his wings and sign his name on a bunch of records. First, during the late 70's, a couple of Fusion records, just what you would expect for a session muscian, that has played in hundreds of City Pop records, to make. No shame in that though. If you're really into Fusion, and a completionist, maybe seek those out. But during the 80's his attention was drawn to synths, gated drums, the New Wave. From 83' to '85 he released a (perfect) string of records, a couple hours of the most amazing, greatly arranged, Fusion-infused Synth Pop. Very close to what Yasuaki Shimizu was doing at the time, who was also a composer/producer/Fusion musician, funnily enough. Maybe when you're working with so many different people, you're able to absorb all the good parts and arrange them into something even better.
Back to our main guy here; He's a bassist, and that really shows. Sometimes you get two [2] basslines per song! Granted, the second (or primary?) is always a fretless bass. He really knows how to use this instrument to its fully, and deserved, potential as a lead, bringing many bittersweet melodies to the table. He's no egocentric, though. Yes, the bass is at the forefront a lot (with some juicy tones), but he's more than competent producer and arranger, bringing a lot of different ideas togheter. No song is ever boring. Catchy and with enough virtuosity. Just some masterful Synth Pop here, folks!
Breath
The first one is mostly instrumental, some choirs here and there, but no catchy lead vocal lines yet, though it's pretty catchy overall, sounding like a Fusion Jazz record that's beyond excited to experiment with this New Wave thingy. Sometimes, like on "Second Marriage" for example, it treads on Kayōkyoku melodramatic territory. It's beautiful, bittersweet, and just short enough to make you wanting much more.
Inner Suggestions
Now we go full-on Synth Pop, with a number of tracks sung by Gotou-san himself, and featuring some typical 80's obsession with short samples (YMO's 'BGM' and 'Technodelic' influence is all over this one). It's cheesy, yes. Tracks like "May I speak to you?" are kinda hard to take seriously, though pretty fun. But check "Conversations" for its full Pop potential. Also, that cover art!
City Trickles: 街の雫
And here's the big one! The amalgamation of everything prior. The New Wave, the Fusion influence, the Kayōkyoku melodrama, those beautiful fretless bass lines, those crazy slap bass lines, the intricate (and very 80's) production, the catchiness, the virtuose. Interestingly enough, this is a double set, with the first disc being mostly instrumental (just like 'Breath') and the second disc featuring some guest female vocals for the majority of the sung songs (whom, unfortunately, hasn't released any solo records; a shame, 'cause I really wanted to hear more from her). Personally, sides C and D are the highlights here (but the whole album is golden). The moods changes on "Snow Joke" shows exactly the masterful songwriting he's capable of, and "The Night Landing" is the most sugary, chessy thing that you'll want to hear again and again.
Get them all [here]
P.S.: Many Thanks to JPOP80SS, specially for City Trickles, which was the hardest to find, until they provided it very recently.
Session musician, composer, and producer for a great number of records, from Fusion to City Pop, including Mioko Yamaguchi, (the also great and composer too) Taeko Ohnuki [should I post about her here? I at least think that her 80's phase is a little underrated], Rajie, Mari Iijima, among hundred others. Also worth mentioning, this list also includes Jackie Chan and Scatman John.
Anyway, not content in just working for other people, Gotou-san decided to spread his wings and sign his name on a bunch of records. First, during the late 70's, a couple of Fusion records, just what you would expect for a session muscian, that has played in hundreds of City Pop records, to make. No shame in that though. If you're really into Fusion, and a completionist, maybe seek those out. But during the 80's his attention was drawn to synths, gated drums, the New Wave. From 83' to '85 he released a (perfect) string of records, a couple hours of the most amazing, greatly arranged, Fusion-infused Synth Pop. Very close to what Yasuaki Shimizu was doing at the time, who was also a composer/producer/Fusion musician, funnily enough. Maybe when you're working with so many different people, you're able to absorb all the good parts and arrange them into something even better.
Back to our main guy here; He's a bassist, and that really shows. Sometimes you get two [2] basslines per song! Granted, the second (or primary?) is always a fretless bass. He really knows how to use this instrument to its fully, and deserved, potential as a lead, bringing many bittersweet melodies to the table. He's no egocentric, though. Yes, the bass is at the forefront a lot (with some juicy tones), but he's more than competent producer and arranger, bringing a lot of different ideas togheter. No song is ever boring. Catchy and with enough virtuosity. Just some masterful Synth Pop here, folks!
The first one is mostly instrumental, some choirs here and there, but no catchy lead vocal lines yet, though it's pretty catchy overall, sounding like a Fusion Jazz record that's beyond excited to experiment with this New Wave thingy. Sometimes, like on "Second Marriage" for example, it treads on Kayōkyoku melodramatic territory. It's beautiful, bittersweet, and just short enough to make you wanting much more.
Inner Suggestions
Now we go full-on Synth Pop, with a number of tracks sung by Gotou-san himself, and featuring some typical 80's obsession with short samples (YMO's 'BGM' and 'Technodelic' influence is all over this one). It's cheesy, yes. Tracks like "May I speak to you?" are kinda hard to take seriously, though pretty fun. But check "Conversations" for its full Pop potential. Also, that cover art!
And here's the big one! The amalgamation of everything prior. The New Wave, the Fusion influence, the Kayōkyoku melodrama, those beautiful fretless bass lines, those crazy slap bass lines, the intricate (and very 80's) production, the catchiness, the virtuose. Interestingly enough, this is a double set, with the first disc being mostly instrumental (just like 'Breath') and the second disc featuring some guest female vocals for the majority of the sung songs (whom, unfortunately, hasn't released any solo records; a shame, 'cause I really wanted to hear more from her). Personally, sides C and D are the highlights here (but the whole album is golden). The moods changes on "Snow Joke" shows exactly the masterful songwriting he's capable of, and "The Night Landing" is the most sugary, chessy thing that you'll want to hear again and again.
Get them all [here]
P.S.: Many Thanks to JPOP80SS, specially for City Trickles, which was the hardest to find, until they provided it very recently.
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