Aritomo – 街を背負った蛙 [Frog Shouldering The Town]

Label: Hakanairo – HAKANAIRO-513
Format: Vinyl, 10", Limited Edition
Country: Japan
Released: 2010
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk

Introverted psychedelic dream-folk from outsider musician Aritomo - a hidden riddle waiting to be solved.

Aritomo is an artist from Japan we’ve been pursuing for some time.  For close to 20 years he’s been slowly releasing music his own music (and occasionally other’s) via his private Hakanairo label.  It’s beautifully in-ward gazing, softly psychedelic, iridescent and exposed - often just the rich tones of acoustic guitar, delicate spindly finger picking and occasional flute support.  His detached, droning vocals give a middle-distance gaze, caught somewhere between Vini Reilly and equally mysterious Japanese artist Daisuke Tobari or even that insane Mickeranno record.  It’s often daunting and overwhelming to get to grips with a new artist when a big block of work is discovered - we’re still unraveling ourselves, trying to understand his stripped-bare beginnings to the later Latin-infused sound.  Refreshing to know there’s still musical mysteries out there waiting to be understood, whilst the hand-made and beautifully adorned sleeves of each of the records feels like an invitation into an artist’s private world.  Dive in.  (Mint / New)

Tracklist
A1 Frog Shouldering The Town
A2 To Your Heart
B Nuevo Mundo