Midori Takada – Through The Looking Glass

PF-006 // WRWTFWW-018

Palto Flats & WRWTFWW Records are proud to announce the highly-anticipated reissue of Japanese percussionist Midori Takada‘s sought after and timeless ambient / minimal album “Through The Looking Glass”, originally released in 1983 by RCA Japan.

Considered a Holy Grail of Japanese music by many, “Through The Looking Glass” is Midori Takada’s first solo endeavor, a captivating four-song suite capturing her deep quests into traditional African and Asian percussive language and exploring contemplative ambient sounds with an admirably precise use of marimba. The result is alternatively ethereal and vibrant, always precise and mesmerizing, and makes for an atmospheric masterpiece and an unparalleled sonic and spiritual experience.

The fully licensed reissue is available both in its original form as a single 33rpm LP and a limited 45rpm 2×12″ (this version is exclusive to WRWTFWW,) both cut directly from the original studio reels (AAA), at Emil Berliner (formerly the in-house recording department of renowned classical record label Deutsche Grammophon) for the 45rpm DLP, and at the equally famous Frankfurter SST Studio for the LP. It is also available in CD format for the first time. All versions come with liner notes, with extended quotes from Ms. Takada.

Press

The Guardian
“Midori Takada, a composer and percussionist in Japan who released a string of mindblowing records beginning in the 1980s, challenges that order. Many call her work minimalism; her interlocking patterns bring to mind Steve Reich, in particular. Her layers of rich textures and atmospheres are sometimes reminiscent of Brian Eno’s classic ambient work. Through it all, she created a sound that is uniquely her own.”

Pitchfork
“The Japanese composer Midori Takada’s newly reissued album is an assimilation of musical modes from around the world. It belongs in the pantheon alongside Steve Reich’s most notable works.”

Resident Advisor
“Midori Takada’s 1983 album Through The Looking Glass, a holy-grail of Japanese ambient and minimal music, is getting reissued this March.”