Not sure where I picked up the recommendation (possibly last years thread) but I’ve been listening to ‘Music for Nine Postcards’ by Hiroshi Yoshimura a lot in the past week. It’s absolutely sublime, just perfect minimal piano/synth work which is so easy to get lost in.
I was reading up on the origins and it appears he had begun writing but it was a trip to a museum which inspired him on to finish the album and then submit it to the museum for it to be played whilst people were there – it’s not hard to hear why they were so accepting.
It got me thinking about when I listen to this type of music, that is minimal or ambient type of stuff, and how it has changed over the years. I used to pretty much solely listen late at night, in headphones – a typical relaxing kind of set up. These days I find I like it as a soundtrack as I’m walking around town to/from work. It takes the edge of everything and adds a lot of calmness to my day. The juxtaposition of the hustle & bustle of city life with the gentle tranquillity of albums such as this really works.
Guess Eno was onto something with Music for Airports after all….!
