Maruo Maruko - CDR Live Sept 2010 (丸尾丸子)

Kyoto based Maruo Maruko is one of my favourite local singer/songwriters. I've already posted a few things from her but she has her first proper studio album coming out this month through Tokyo based indie label Enban (円盤) so now seems as good a time as any to share some more stuff from this talented musician.

This CDR is a live recording made by her in Sept of 2010. There's no info about where it was recorded but the recordings are of a decent quality. Maruko's music has a beautiful timeless folk feel to it that feels both evocative and nostalgic and also uniquely Japanese. Maruko is a multi-instrumentalist who most often uses accordion but also makes use of guitar, mouth harp, toy instruments and even sometimes radio. She's playing a handful of shows to promote the release of her album so check her out if you can.

Dec 1st @Kyoto Urban Guild

Dec 7th @ Osaka Chef-d'oeuvre

Dec 13th@ Osaka Namba Bears

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Maruo Maruko - Kameko No Sora (丸尾丸子- カメ子の空)

Thought I'd bring in the new year with something a little special. This is a 2009 self released album from the wonderful Maruo Maruko. This time around we have 7 studio recorded tracks which some tracks from her first CDR making a return but featuring different instruments and arrangements. Maruo is in my opinion one of the best singer/songwriters in Japan at the moment. Her music has such a beautiful sense of melody and a truly hypnotic understanding of understatement and space. Not to mention that spinetingling voice of hers. Music to get lost in. 
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Maruo Maruko - Daisan Hankyu No Radio (丸尾丸子- 第三半球のラヂヲ)

Maruko plays an intimate, nostalgic form of Japanese folk music with a slightly avant garde twist. Maruko a Kyoto native and multi instrumentalist utilizes guitar, accordian and toy instruments and even manages to play a Jew's harp while singing. This is her first self released CDR of live recordings from 2008. 

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