Hosono, Haruomi
Hosono House
In 1973, Hosono released 'Hosono House', an intimate slice of Japanese Americana recorded at home with a back-to-basics approach akin to 'Music From Big Pink' or McCartney. While his former band Happy End helped pave the way for the rise of "city pop" that reflected upon urban themes and city life, Hosono took a 180 degree turn towards the countryside for his highly-regarded first solo album. The songs on 'Hosono House' display the breadth of Hosono's talents, from the hushed acoustic folk of 'Rock-A-Bye My Baby' and the country twang of 'Boku Wa Chotto' to the New Orleans funk of 'Fuyu Koe' and the unexpected breakbeats in 'Bara To Yajuu.' Lauded by artists such as Jim O'Rourke and Devendra Banhart, 'Hosono House' remains a touchstone of the early phase of Hosono's career.