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Still Way (Wave Notation 2)

by Satoshi Ashikawa

supported by
Olivier Tison
Olivier Tison thumbnail
Olivier Tison Considering the time of writing this (1982), this is a precursor of many ambient albums which followed. A curiosity, "intended to be listened to in a casual manner, as a musical landscape or a sound object" to quote its author Satoshi Ashikawa. The opening chords are the same as the Terminator theme, which makes me smile but then it's easy to get into this music as it's intended, while doing something else as soothing as this music is.
flunkneedle
flunkneedle thumbnail
flunkneedle Fine work that avoids minimalism's more indulgent extremes, from an artist whose unfortunate early death nearly 40 years ago came just as his Wave Notation series was getting started. This cast a good spell for me, coming at the right time, right place. Favorite track: Image Under The Tree.
polinos
polinos thumbnail
polinos 'Still Way' indeed! An exercise in zen simplicity and meditative deep listening. Play it whenever you need time and space to relax.
Robert Bloemkolk
Robert Bloemkolk thumbnail
Robert Bloemkolk Yes, it's beautiful. But I find myself turning it off after 20 minutes or so. Too blissed out? Not yet sure about this one. Should give it more time, I guess. Favorite track: Still Park - Ensemble.
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  • Digital Album
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  • Satoshi Ashikawa's Still Way + Gareth Quinn Redmond's Laistigh den Ghleo CD COMBO
    Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    *** TERRITORY RESTRICTION - NO SALES TO JAPAN ***

    With liner notes by Satoshi Ashikawa, Midori Takada and Gareth Quinn Redmond.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Still Way (Wave Notation 2) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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  • Satoshi Ashikawa's Still Way + Gareth Quinn Redmond's Laistigh den Ghleo VINYL COMBO
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    *** TERRITORY RESTRICTION - NO SALES TO JAPAN ***

    With liner notes by Satoshi Ashikawa, Midori Takada and Gareth Quinn Redmond.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Still Way (Wave Notation 2) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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  • Satoshi Ashikawa - Still Way TEST PRESSING (Edition of 25)
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Collector's item // Satoshi Ashikawa - Still Way test pressing // Only 25 available // Only here.

    Comes with digital download + liner notes. ALL ORDERS SHIP WITH TRACKING.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Still Way (Wave Notation 2) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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  • Satoshi Ashikawa - Still Way TEST PRESSING
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    4 copies.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Still Way (Wave Notation 2) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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  • Vinyl LP
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    *** TERRITORY RESTRICTION - NO SALES TO JAPAN ***

    With liner notes by Satoshi Ashikawa, Midori Takada and Gareth Quinn Redmond.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Still Way (Wave Notation 2) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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  • Digipack CD
    Compact Disc (CD) + Digital Album

    *** TERRITORY RESTRICTION - NO SALES TO JAPAN ***

    With liner notes by Satoshi Ashikawa, Midori Takada and Gareth Quinn Redmond.

    Includes unlimited streaming of Still Way (Wave Notation 2) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.

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  • Still Way Vinyl LP
    Record/Vinyl + Digital Album

    Back in stock.

    *** TERRITORY RESTRICTION - NO SALES TO JAPAN ***

    WRWTFWW Records is honored to announce the much anticipated reissue of Satoshi Ashikawa’s undeniable classic of Japanese environmental/ambient/minimalism, Still Way (Wave Notation 2). The album, available on vinyl (first time since 1982) and digipack CD (with one bonus track), comes with a cover artwork by Hiroshi Yoshimura and liner notes by Midori Takada, Satoshi Ashikawa himself, and Irish producer Gareth Quinn Redmond (whose Still Way-inspired album Laistigh den Ghleo is being released simultaneously on WRWTFWW).

    Initially released in 1982 as part of the Wave Notation series*, Still Way is, without a doubt, a seminal Japanese environmental/ambient/minimalism album, often mentioned alongside Midori Takada’s Through Looking Glass and Hiroshi Yoshimura’s Green as one of the genre’s most important pieces.

    "Like the moment of stillness, after the wind passes through the garden, when the rain stops for a brief second…" Notably inspired by Erik Satie’s Furniture Music and Brian Eno’s ambient work, Satoshi Ashikawa aimed to compose music "intended to be listened to in a casual manner, as a musical landscape or a sound object…not something that would stimulate listeners but music that should drift like smoke and become part of the environment."

    The result is simply phenomenal, subtle minimalism and emotional elegance exquisitely orchestrated by Satoshi Ishikawa and his team consisting of his wife Masami Ashikawa (on flute), Midori Takada (on vibraphone), Yuko Utsumi (on harp), Tomoko Sono (on piano), and Junko Arase (on vibraphone).

    In conjunction with Still Way, WRWTFWW is releasing Laistigh den Ghleo, a companion album by Irish ambient/minimalist composer Gareth Quinn Redmond, inspired by Ashikawa’s approach.

    *The Wave Notation series also includes Hiroshi Yoshimura’s Music For Nine Postcards album.

    Prelude 1:46
    Harp - Yuko Utsumi
    Piano - Tomoko Sono
    Vibraphone - Midori Takada

    Landscape Of Wheels 11:52
    Harp - Yuko Utsumi

    Still Park - Ensemble 12:05
    Harp - Yuko Utsumi
    Piano - Midori Takada
    Vibraphone - Junko Arase

    Still Park - Piano Solo 4:48
    Piano - Tomoko Sono

    Still Sky 8:33
    Flute - Masami Ashikawa

    Image Under The Tree 13.03
    Flute - Masami Ashikawa
    Piano - Tomoko Sono
    Vibraphone - Midori Takada

    Includes unlimited streaming of Still Way (Wave Notation 2) via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    ... more

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Prelude 01:46
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Still Sky 08:33
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about

*** TERRITORY RESTRICTION - NO SALES TO JAPAN ***

WRWTFWW Records is honored to announce the much anticipated reissue of Satoshi Ashikawa’s undeniable classic of Japanese environmental/ambient/minimalism, Still Way (Wave Notation 2). The album, available on vinyl (first time since 1982) and digipack CD (with one bonus track), comes with a cover artwork by Hiroshi Yoshimura and liner notes by Midori Takada, Satoshi Ashikawa himself, and Irish producer Gareth Quinn Redmond (whose Still Way-inspired album Laistigh den Ghleo is being released simultaneously on WRWTFWW).

Initially released in 1982 as part of the Wave Notation series*, Still Way is, without a doubt, a seminal Japanese environmental/ambient/minimalism album, often mentioned alongside Midori Takada’s Through Looking Glass and Hiroshi Yoshimura’s Green as one of the genre’s most important pieces.

"Like the moment of stillness, after the wind passes through the garden, when the rain stops for a brief second…" Notably inspired by Erik Satie’s Furniture Music and Brian Eno’s ambient work, Satoshi Ashikawa aimed to compose music "intended to be listened to in a casual manner, as a musical landscape or a sound object…not something that would stimulate listeners but music that should drift like smoke and become part of the environment."

The result is simply phenomenal, subtle minimalism and emotional elegance exquisitely orchestrated by Satoshi Ishikawa and his team consisting of his wife Masami Ashikawa (on flute), Midori Takada (on vibraphone), Yuko Utsumi (on harp), Tomoko Sono (on piano), and Junko Arase (on vibraphone).

In conjunction with Still Way, WRWTFWW is releasing Laistigh den Ghleo, a companion album by Irish ambient/minimalist composer Gareth Quinn Redmond, inspired by Ashikawa’s approach.

*The Wave Notation series also includes Hiroshi Yoshimura’s Music For Nine Postcards album.

Prelude 1:46
Harp - Yuko Utsumi
Piano - Tomoko Sono
Vibraphone - Midori Takada

Landscape Of Wheels 11:52
Harp - Yuko Utsumi

Still Park - Ensemble 12:05
Harp - Yuko Utsumi
Piano - Midori Takada
Vibraphone - Junko Arase

Still Park - Piano Solo 4:48
Piano - Tomoko Sono

Still Sky 8:33
Flute - Masami Ashikawa

Image Under The Tree 13.03
Flute - Masami Ashikawa
Piano - Tomoko Sono
Vibraphone - Midori Takada

Wrinkle 11:52 (Bonus - CD & Digital Only)

credits

released August 16, 2019

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WRWTFWW Records Geneva, Switzerland

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