Name: Cochin Moon
Brand: Haruomi Hosono

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

LITA17411

Colour

Yellow

Colour details

Opaque Yellow

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: Yes

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2023-06-23

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

826853174114

Total Cap

Yellow LP

lita174cd

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "lita174cd"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

Extended format: No

2018-09-28

826853017428

{"blocks": [{"data": {"text": "826853017428"}, "type": "paragraph"}]}

1 / CD / Extended format: No / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Haruomi Hosono

Genre GB

Experimental / Avant-Garde / Industrial / Noise

Label GB

Light in the Attic

Haruomi Hosono, also known as Harry Hosono, is a Japanese musician, singer, songwriter and record producer. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians in Japanese pop music history. With his contributions to shaping the sound of Japanese pop for decades, he has also had a significant impact on international pop music. Haruomi's work has inspired genres such as city pop and Shibuya-kei.

Starting his career with the psychedelic rock band Apryl Fool, Haruomi gained recognition both nationally and internationally as a founding member of Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) and Happy End. Alongside these bands, he helped pioneer the electro genre and influenced the later development of techno and acid house.

In addition to his work with various bands, Haruomi has released numerous solo albums spanning different styles including film soundtracks and electronic ambient music. He has also produced music for other artists such as Akiko Yano, Sheena & The Roketts, Tatsuro Yamashita, Sandii & The Sunsetz, Miharu Koshi and Hajime Tachibana.

Light In The Attic (LITA) is an independent record label based in Seattle, Washington. Established in 2002 by two music enthusiasts, LITA began as a concert productions company before venturing into reissuing lost classics with modern packaging and production. With a passion for preserving and celebrating music history, LITA has become a respected authority in the industry.
Since its inception, LITA has been dedicated to unearthing forgotten gems and giving them new life. Their carefully curated catalog spans various genres and eras, showcasing the diversity of musical talent that may have otherwise been overlooked. From soulful R&B to psychedelic rock, LITA's releases are cherished by collectors and music lovers alike.
With their meticulous attention to detail and commitment to quality, LITA has gained recognition for their exceptional vinyl reissues. Each release is thoughtfully remastered from original tapes or best available sources, ensuring that the essence of the music is preserved while delivering an enhanced listening experience for modern audiences.

Newest Listed Items

First ever vinyl reissue and first ever release outside of Japan. Translated interview with Haruomi Hosono. LP housed in a deluxe gatefold jacket. The unbelievably prolific Haruomi Hosono is one of the major architects of modern Japanese pop music. With his encyclopedic knowledge of music and boundless curiosity for new sounds, Hosono is the auteur of his own idiosyncratic musical world, putting his unmistakable stamp on hundreds of recordings as an artist, session player, songwriter and producer. 

Released in September 1978, a mere two months before YMO’s debut, Cochin Moon is a clear precursor to the groundbreaking synth and sequencer-dominated sounds that would come to define the iconic trio. Credited to Hosono and Pop Art legend Tadanori Yokoo (who created the cover art), Cochin Moon is a fictional soundtrack to a journey into unknown worlds, inspired by Hosono and Yokoo’s trip to India. Initially the album was to be a kind of ethnographic musical document, using found sounds and field recordings made by Hosono himself. Instead, after Yokoo introduced Hosono to the sounds of Kraftwerk and krautrock during the trip, Cochin Moon became something much stranger. Created almost entirely on synthesizers and sequencers with the help of future YMO collaborators Ryuichi Sakamoto and Hideki Matsutake, the music on the album is the perfect encapsulation of Hosono’s concept of “sightseeing music,” transporting the listener to an exotic place that may or may not exist. This highly sought-after album sees its first-ever official release outside of Japan.

Admired by artists ranging from Van Dyke Parks to Mac DeMarco, Hosono continues to forge ahead as he heads into his fifth decade as a musician. With the re-release of his key albums for the first time outside of Japan, his genius will be discovered by a whole new generation of fans around the world.

Cochin Moon

Music GB

Buy Haruomi Hosono - Cochin Moon (Vinyl, CD) now from Rough Trade - independent purveyors of great music, since 1976.