Classically trained percussionist Stomu Yamashta recorded for Island Records between 1972 and 1976, releasing seven albums of extraordinarily creative and enjoyable progressive music. With elements of formal composition, jazz-rock, electronica and progressive rock, Yamashta’s ability to fuse East and West into an intriguing and entertaining whole was remarkable.
Although I have most of the Island albums on vinyl, the chance to acquire this neat and complete Island years box set was much too appealing to pass up.
Generally speaking, the earlier work is more experimental though none of it is inaccessible.
Clockwise from top left: Floating Music / The Man From The East / One By One (film OST) / Freedom Is Frightening
Freedom Is Frightening is one of my favourite albums; a perfect fusion of electronic, progressive and jazz-rock elements. And it has superb cover art by the legendary artist Saul Bass (creator of many iconic film credit sequences). Bass provided the art work for the Go album as well.
The Go! project (with Steve Winwood, Klaus Schulze and Al Di Meola) is one that has appeared at Vinyl Connection several times over the years. It’s a perennial favourite.
Go / Go… Live From Paris / Raindog / Box Set Booklet
The book let is well presented, with a good introduction. Each album cover is reproduced, with the cover notes from the original. This is something of a missed opportunity, as many 70s album covers provided sparse detail on the musicians/instruments and so on. Still, a minor carp regarding a great value box that will hugely entertain those of a progressive bent or with a thirst for innovative sounds of the Seventies.
Stomu Yamashta — Seasons: The Island Albums 1972-1976
Esoteric Recordings ECLEC72811 [2022]
vinylconnection.com.au 
The paint is dry and it’s now warm enough to return to the sunroom. That Go album could be a nice start to the season.
Thanks
DD
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The Go Sessions came up on YouTube and are playing now. There’s clarity yet warmth in the opening number. And is there such a thing as mild grandeur and mystery? Hold on. That sounds a bit harsh. Maybe I’m getting carried away here. It is a bit of an unfolding journey (it’s getting a bit ‘cheeky’ at the 15 minute mark) and perhaps I need now to sit back and just let go; hit post.
Thanks again Bruce.
DD
PS: Z signed off on a solar panel and aircon deal for the Sunroom as I’ve been sitting here, so many more sessions like this one are likely this year.
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Laid back is a good injunction, DD. Sounds like some fine work on the sunroom will make following that suggestion even easier.
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That A/C went from ‘To do’ list to ‘Bucket list’ some years ago.
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I had never heard of Stomu Yamashta before, Bruce. That Go project with Steve Winwood, Al Di Meola, Klaus Schulze and Michael Shrieve sounds really wild! I’m currently listening to “Go Live From Paris” – cool stuff!
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Fantastic, Christian. That’s a great place to start. Hope it continues to impress!
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We’ve chatted ‘Go’ before. Always appreciate the reminders.
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Yeah, the Go album is one that seems to pop up here over and over.
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One more pop up here. The Go album is the one bit of Stomu in my stacks. It was the Di Meola and Schultze mentions on the cover, along with what I suspect to have been a subconscious memory of seeing mention in the VC chronicles, that led me to save it from the bins. I should listen to it…
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Indeed you should. 🙂
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The Winwood connection for me.
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Never heard of this person (gasp!
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Yet I am intrigued.
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That’s the spirit!
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I have only read about him on these very pages. And I still haven’t heard a note yet, I’ll rectify that tomorrow and report back.
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Good plan!
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I remember some of the ‘cool’ prog kids at school carrying some of these albums around under their oxters. I never paid much attention. I wasn’t cool.
However, last year I inherited three Stomu Yamashta LPs from a pal who was downsizing house and had to get rid of his record collection.
Great albums.
Look at me now, Ma! I’m almost quite cool. 😉 😀
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In this company, most certainly inner circle of cool. Awkward high fives all round!
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