Regular readers of this blog know of my love of Japanese Songstress Matsutoya Yumi from my constant babbling and gushing over the years- I’ve been a fan of Yumi’s since her 1994 album Kathmandu, and though I’ve since gone back through her catalog and even beyond to her Arai Yumi work, nothing beats the sheer excitement of a brand new release, so it was an AWESOME surprise that awaited me in my mailbox, as her 35th studio album proper Soshite Moichido Yume Mirudaro AND I WILL DREAM AGAIN arrived today!!!
This will be Yumi’s first studio album since 2006’s A GIRL IN SUMMER, (the album that featured the awesome song SMILE AGAIN, that anthemic tune that most will remember from the KOHAKU UTA GASSEN, where Yumi gave her first and only (to date) appearance on that long-running show) so I’d been waiting QUITE a while for something new from her!
After taking a few minutes to admire the beautiful, beautiful gatefold digipak CD, I popped the disc in, and set back to take in the wonder that IS Matsutoya Yumi, and from the opening chords of PICCADILLY CIRCUS, I was taken away!
AND I WILL DREAM AGAIN is saturated with light, jazzy overtones that remind one of 70’s artists like Spyro Gyra and George Benson’s “Breezin’”, and most of the tracks follow this vibe with the notable exceptions of two or three tunes, but the overall tone is pleasant and cheerful!Overall, a smooth, mellow album to listen to on a summer day, driving round seeing the sights with the convertible top down…like MUCH of Yumi Matsutoya’s songs!
AND I WILL DREAM AGAIN
1. Piccadilly Circus
2. Mazuwa Doko e Yukou
3. Heart No Rakugaki
4. Flying Messenger
5. Kiiro Rolls Royce
6. Bueno Adios
7. Judas Kiss
8. Dangerous Tonight
9. Yozorano de Tsunagatte Iro
10. Ningyu Hime no Yume
