Credits

I would like to give credit where credit is due. Videos are from YouTube and other sources such as NicoNico while Oricon rankings and other information are translated from the Japanese Wikipedia unless noted.

Friday, May 1, 2026

Hiroshi Yasukawa -- Talk To Me

 

A few weeks ago, commenter Francois steered me toward a song that he had heard. It was by jazz and fusion guitarist Hiroshi Yasukawa(安川ひろし)who used to be one-half of the duo DEW back in 1980. I've written about a few of their songs including "Atsui Sasayaki"(熱いささやき).

Well, Yasukawa certainly kept himself busy after DEW had evaporated. He came up with three albums including the 1984 "Fission". That front cover doesn't have anything to do with fission, though; if anything, it looks like it should be described with another two-syllable word with a double-consonant combination in the middle.

Anyways, Francois was right to recommend the track "Talk To Me" since it's plum perfect for Urban Contemporary Friday. It's some groovy laidback City Pop composed by Yasukawa and Michael McClellan and written all in English by David Skinner. Yasukawa's vocals remind me of some of the other relaxed voices out there such as Fujimal Yoshino(芳野藤丸)and Makoto Matsushita(松下誠).

Dirty Androids -- Sapphire City

By W.carter via Wikimedia Commons

 

Couldn't tell sapphires from rubies aside from the colour, I'm afraid. All I know is that trying to acquire any of them would be way above my pay grade.

Mind you, acquiring Dirty Androids' "Classic" from 2024 with the track "Sapphire City" would be much more reasonable and perhaps more satisfying depending on how much of a music lover you are. I first mentioned the music producer, aka Daisuke Akitsu (秋津大祐), when I posted his collaboration with punipunidenki(ぷにぷに電機), the 2021 "Private Sunset"(プライベート・サンセット). Since then, I haven't gotten much more information about the secretive artist although I finally did find an entry on RemyWiki.

"Sapphire City" is a pretty cool and clubby City Pop tune of the 2020s...it's something to enjoy while savoring a cocktail during sunset in one of the tallest bars in Tokyo, perhaps. Yup, it's a very chill tune.