Japanese Fan Dance

japanese fan dance
volume 2 number 13

as this week's download is released I should be in tokyo.
I have always loved japan for its aesthetic, its ancient culture,
philosophies, and the dazzle of the modern japanese sense of style.
I began going to japan in 1979 with david bowie. this will be my 13th visit.

in 1984, having made two solo records of "pop" music I wanted to create
music from a different era. modern classical/ethnic music made with modern
instrumentation. in particular the guitar synthesizer. my aim was to write
cinematic pieces which resembled orchestral music but were performed on
guitar. the result was desire caught by the tail.
the latest guitar synthe, the Roland GR-700 had arrived on my doorstep
and was giving me hours of excitement. mine came with a manual in japanese,
which meant I had to figure it out for myself. maybe that's why I created such
a unique palette of sounds. I even figured out how to make the GR-700 play itself!
it remains my favorite of all the guitar synthesizers.
japanese fan dance would eventually become the track called
beach creatures dancing like cranes.
the painting of beach creatures adorns the back cover of side one.

log drum, fretless guitar synthesizer: adrian
recorded at home in Urbana, Ill. on december 6, 1984
length: 3:32