Interior – Interior

One of the best-sounding records I own. Such a clean pressing and very clear, full sound.

My copy doesn't have the labels known from the photos or the reissue, but the "usual" red Yen Rec. labels (which I like). Were there different versions/variants of the 1982 LP?

You dont want this...
You need this...

It's a sonic masterpiece and I was blown away.

Super quiet vinyl.
Very dynamic in sound.
Among the very best in my collection.

Agreed, this is a stellar pressing, dead quiet and dynamic mastering. Sounds like you're in the room.
Comes in a quality lined black inner sleeve. Great reissue!

Sounds amazing, thanks WRWTFWW :) :) :) :) :) :)

Really excellent Japanese instrumental synth pop album produced by Harry Hosono. If you don't believe me - because it's labeled "new age" and pressed by Windham Hill - just take a look at one of the releases on Yen Records.

The Yen Records pressing is the one to get, as well, as it has a few additional tracks that I think round out the album a bit better.

Is this new age music? I don’t even know. All I know is Technobose is great. This album is definitely a keeper.

I absolutely adore this album. It feels like such a ion project and it feels like such a *light* album. Alot of the tracks do become essentially sound collages rather than songs, which seems to be hit or miss for people, but I appreciate it when I'm in the mood for the repetitious style. It seems everything Hosono touches kinda becomes gold. I've made it a habit to pick up japanese records whenever they catch my eye and I'm eternally grateful to have found this one.

The US Windham Hill version is mostly similar to the Yen Records version, except for the following (accompanied with my speculation to their rationales):

1) The cover design (Windham Hill's branded design layout and imagery taking the place of the geometric black and white pattern of the Yen Records edition)
2) Exclusion of A4 N.F.G. - 3:40 - Most likely excluded due to the angular, "non-chill", Japanese post-punk new-wave quality of this track (very non-Windham Hill); also contains vocals.
3) Exclusion of B3 Cold Beach - 3:44 - Most likely excluded due to its cold, angular (with 4AD-type post-punk distant guitar wails), dark-minimal electronic quality (very non-Windham Hill). Replaced with:
4) B1 Hot Beach - 4:13 - Much more "positive", in line with the "Windham Hill" brand.
5) Minor track order changes to accommodate these exclusions and replacement.

While it is unfortunate the cover art was changed and there was no US release of the removed Japanese-release only tracks, the track alterations do make for a more coherent, "uplifting/positive ambient soft electronic jazz" listening. Hot Beach is a rad track, and should have made it to the Yen version (showed up instead on the "Yen Manifold Vol. 1" compilation).

This certainly (IMHO) has to be one of the best (aside from Interior's 1987 "Design") of Windham Hill releases, with enjoyable melodies and arrangements and great synths, while rarely going too far over the "cheese line".

Its still cheese, but its very, very enjoyable cheese, in part thanks to the Haruomi Hosono production. Many of these tracks belong on the soundtrack for some mid-80s earnest inspirational drama, its a shame they missed out.

One of a few Yen Records releases that made it over to the US, making it one of the most affordable (albeit altered) Yen releases.