[Song Review #211] "In the universe" by Shambara
Hi. Today's song is "In the universe" by "Shambara".
This is a stylish, and lively pop song performed by a 6-piece pop group "Shambara" in 1989.
It would be a very good BGM if you are playing a sport like skiing.
"Shambara" was a highly skilful pop band performing refined pop instrumental songs with vocal duo, though it did not last long.
A bassist "Tetsuo Sakurai" & a drummer "Akira Jimbo", who both were the members of top Fusion band "Casiopea" at that time, took the lead for founding this unique group.
If you like please listen to.
No sample
We are afraid, but with regard to the samples for today's song "In the universe", there seems to be NONE available from the online music shops at the moment.
Even so, we still would like to introduce this song now, since the long awaited CD has been reissued just a month ago from "Tower record", and we are not sure how long the stocks will be available.
Fortunately, there seems to be some samples on Youtube at present, so please check on them for the time being, if you do not mind.
Links to the music shop, selling CD, is located on the bottom of this page.
Some contents have been put away in tabs with "▶" mark in each section, so please click it to see.
We are now working on improving appearances of our posts.
If you find anything odd, please kindly let us know.
Thank you.
Cover art today
Song data
| Title | In the universe |
|---|---|
| Artist | Shambara |
| Album Title | |
| Catalog Number | PROT-1346 |
| Track No. | 10 |
| Duration | 3:55 |
| Released | 1989 |
| Publisher | |
| Lyricist | |
| Composer | |
| Arranger |
About the creators
Yurie Kokubu Lyricist
"Yurie Kokubu" is a singer-songwriter, lyricist, gospel singer, and a former member of "Shambara", active since 1983.
As a pop-singer, she has released 7 albums and 9 (?) singles so far.
She is also a gospel singer, which is relatively rare in Japan. And has released 8 albums of gospel songs until now.
Short Bio.
Some references on the internet says, "Yurie Kokubu" was already active as a backing vocalist before debuting as a solo singer in 1983.
In the early '80s, a competent music producer, "Tetsuji Hayashi" saw "Kokubu" and found her interesting while she was singing in the bassist "Yoshihiro Naruse"'s group.
"Hayashi" began to produce her soon, and in 1983, "Yurie Kokubu" debuted as a pop-singer with her first album, "Relief 72 Hours".
From debut to 1997
As a solo singer, "Kokubu" released seven fine pop albums from debut to 1997.
And one of her song titled "Akogare" (longing), released in 1995 as a theme music for a popular TV documentary series, became a long hit, and thus, it has been a well known song of her.
She was also active as a guest singer, or backing vocalist, and frequently collaborating with various artists in the pop song world.
For instance, in 1983, "Kokubu" duetted with "Toshiki Kadomatsu" on his single record, "It's Hard To Say Goodbye"
Since then, "Kokubu" had been an important backing vocalist for Kadomatsu's albums at least until around 1987.
In 1989, "Kokubu" participated in a pop group "Shambara", which we are introducing today, and released one and only, but excellent pop album.
As a lyricist, she wrote a song titled "Tada nakitkau naruno" (I just feel like crying) in 1995 with her partner "Masaki Iwamoto" took part in as a composer & arranger.
The song was offered for a top idol star, "Miho Nakayama", and it became a million seller.
Since then, she is also active as a lyricist for other singers.
From 1998 onward
Around 1997, "Kokubu" began to sing as a gospel singer.
From 1999 to present, she has collaborated with "Masaki Iwamoto", who is a composer, arranger, keyboardist, and the partner of "Kokubu", and released 8 impressive gospel albums.
Not only releasing albums, but "Kokubu" & "Iwamoto" seems to be holding chapel concerts by visiting many churches across Japan.
At the same time, "Kokubu" is continuously active as a pop singer & backing vocalist.
From 1998 to 2014, "Kokubu" had been a backing vocalist for "Tatsurō Yamashita" band together with "Kumi Sasaki".
"Kokubu" is also supporting "Mariya Takeuchi" on various albums or her rare concerts, as a backing vocalist to Takeuchi.
References
For more details, please have a look at the references linked below.
-
(Ref: www.kokubuyurie.com,
profile)🇯🇵
Tetsuo Sakurai Composer
"Tetsuo Sakurai" is a bassist, composer, arranger, and music producer active since 1976.
"Sakurai" is famous as a masterly electronic bass player. And also well known as a former member of an internationally popular Fusion band, "Casiopea", and "Jimsaku".
Short Bio.
According to the article about him on Wikipedia, "Sakurai" began to play the electric bass in middle school.
While he was in high school, "Sakurai" was also playing music in the community outside school.
In that community, "Sakurai" met with a guitarist "Issei Noro".
They got along very well, and soon formed a session team. And this small instrumental duo later became "Casiopea".
In 1977, "Minoru Mukaiya" joined the band, which was already named as "Casiopea", as a keyboardist.
"Casiopea" entered a known amateur band contest (EastWest'77) in that year, and not only became a finalist, but also received a best group award.
And after a while, a 4-piece Fusion band "Casiopea" finally debuted in 1979 with their first album "Casiopea".
"Casiopea" soon became very popular, and created a "Fusion Boom" in Japan together with various instrumental groups debuted in the same timing.
"Casiopea" played concerts also in overseas, and gained unexpected popularity in many countries.
Shambara, Jimsaku, & solo
In 1989, "Sakurai" & his colleague "Akira Jimbo", participated in a vocal band project, "Shambara".
This caused a controversy within "Casiopea", and at the end of the day, the band was split into two.
"Sakurai" & "Jimbo" acted in line, and formed a new Fusion band "Jimsaku" to pursue the music they were wishing to.
"Jimsaku" released eight excellent albums during its operative period. And in 1998, they stopped the band activity.
Afterwards, he has been travelling around the world as a solo artists. And collaborating with various musicians in many countries.
In 2020, "Jimsaku" reached its 30th anniversary of their debut.
For celebrating this, "Sakurai" & "Jimbo" restarted "Jimsaku" and released a new album in 2021.
References
For more details about "Tetsuo Sakurai", please have a look at the references linked below.
-
(Ref: tetsuosakurai.com,
profile)🇯🇵
Shambara, Masaki Iwamoto, Akira IshiguroArrangers
Three names are credited as arrangers.
Among them, the members of "Shambara" will be covered later in "About the artist" section.
So, we would like to touch just a bit on "Masaki Iwamoto", and "Akira Ishiguro".
Masaki Iwamoto
"Masaki Iwamoto" is a pianist, keyboardist, arranger, and composer active since around mid '80s.
He has arranged, or composed more than 1500 songs for songs for more than 100 artists in Japanese popular music scene, as well as various TV dramas or anime series so far.
In private, his partner is a popular Pops & gospel singer, "Yurie Kokubu".
Since around 1996, "Iwamoto" and "Kokubu" are constantly creating, and releasing a "colloquial" and "easy-to-listen" style acoustic gospel music together.
For more details about "Masaki Iwamoto", please check the references linked below.
Akira Ishiguro
"Akira Ishiguro" is a keyboardist, synthesizer programmer, composer, arranger, and once a support member to a popular rock band "Seikima-II".
According to some references, "Ishiguro" started his music career in the late '80s, as a keyboardist to a Fusion band "Yūji Toriyama Zi-Space".
Since then, he has been working with various musicians like, "Akira Wada", "Kyōji Yamamoto" etc., as a session & tour musician.
He is also active as a composer & arranger, and has participated in various TV anime, or drama series.
From 1992 to 1994, he was a support member to a popular hard rock, & heavy metal band "Seikima-II".
For more information about "Akira Ishiguro", please have a look at the references listed below.
-
(Ref: iwamotomasaki.com,
profile)🇯🇵 -
(Ref: www.ne.jp akiraishiguro,
profile)🇯🇵
Song image & Lyrics
Open
Link to the lyrics
Copyright notice on the lyrics link
Sound impression
Festive & stylish
This is a festive, stylish, and spirited pop song in upper middle speed.
Refreshing
The drums, bass, electric guitar, brass synthesizer, marimba, percussion, and backing chorus begin a festive introduction.
In the main part, two vocalist sings an encouraging lyrics in unison in refreshing tone.
Funky sound of the Clavinet is contributing to create festive atmosphere.
Wonderful chorus
One notable feature of this song is a harmony of backing chorus and 2 main vocals in front channel.
We imagine the both parts were performed by the two vocalist of Shambara.
Curiously, the style of singing by these vocalists, sounds relaxing, but energizing. We don't know why, but It is wonderful.
Reference
About Google translate
About the artist
Shambara Never never super band
"Shambara" was a 6-piece pop group founded by powerful 4 musicians and 2 female vocalists in 1989.
The band released one single record and one excellent debut album in the same year.
But sometime after, the group stopped its activity for unknown (at lest for us) reasons, without announcing anything.
As referred, Shambara debuted in 1989 with their first album, "Shambara". And additionally, a single record titled "Koi-no shunkan" (Can't Stop My Love) was released, but it was a sample only, and not for sale.
Background
A unique pop group "Shambara" was formed in 1989, mainly by a bassist "Tetsuo Sakurai" & a drummer "Akira Jimbo" who both were members of a top fusion band "Casiopea" at that time.
The group featured two female vocalists, and was aiming at performing music like a vocal pops on a stylish Fusion sound.
Back in 1988, one of the most popular Fusion band "Casiopea" just completed a year long concert tour contained a hundred concerts in different venues in both domestic and overseas.
The members of Casiopea agreed to take one year break from the beginning of 1989, to utilise this time for individual activity.
According to wikipedia, a promoter from a prospering entertainment firm (might) approached "Sakurai" & "Jimbo", (or vice versa), in this period, and sought for a possibility of forming a new exclusive pop group featuring lively vocal & stylish Fusion music, since the customers of the entertainment firm, and the fans of "Casiopea" were somewhat overlapping.
The details are not known, but this idea resulted in an ambitious "Shambara" project.
"Sakurai" & "Jimbo" scouted the most suitable musicians for this project. And by the mid of 1989, "Sakurai", "Jimbo" and four of newly joined members, namely, "Kaoru Akimoto", "Kunihiko Ryō", "Nozomi Furukawa", and "Yurie Kokubu" teamed up a new pop group, and named it "Shambara".
Members
The members of the pop band "Shambara" were as follows.
- Kaoru Akimoto (Vo)
-
"Kaoru Akimoto" is a pop singer, lyricist, and composer active since around 1983.
Wikipedia says, "Akimoto" started her professional career in around 1983 as a backing vocalist to a top singer-song writer "Yumi Matsutōya". (This clearly explains "Akimoto"'s ability for singing.)
In December 1985, "Akimoto" debuted as a solo singer with her first single "Paradox". This single record was used as a main theme for "Rumiko Takahashi"'s OVA (Original Video Animation), "Honoo Tripper". (Fire Tripper).
And in 1986, "Akimoto" released her first and only album "Cologne" from "Invitation" label.
In 1989, "Akimoto" took part in "Shambara" project as a vocalist and a founding member. And released an album "Shambara" which later became precious as a rare album contains "Akimoto"'s singing.
And after the "Shambara" project, she has been performing a a backing vocalist, as well as a lyricist & composer.
Recently, we have heard that "Akimoto"'s first and only album "Cologne" has recognized again but came first in overseas, not in Japan.
(In our words, getting fair evaluation after 30 plus years from its release.)
Anyway, it is available from various channels at the moment. If you like please listen to.
For more details about her, please have a look at her wikipedia page linked below.
(Ref: Wikipedia-jp, Kaoru Akimoto)
- Yurie Kokubu (Vo)
-
"Yurie Kokubu" is a singer-songwriter, lyricist, gospel singer, and a former member of "Shambara", active since 1983.
She is a lyricist of this song, and we have introduced her little in "About the artist" section of this article.
Please have a look at the section for more details about her. This is a link if you like. "About the artist, lyricist, Yurie Kokubu".
- Kunihiko Ryō (Key)
-
"Kunihiko Ryō" is a pianist, composer, music producer, and used to be a medical doctor active since around 1980.
"Ryō" started his professional career as a backing member to various artists while he was a medical student.
"Ryō" once started a career as a medical doctor after graduating from college. But after one year time, he took a decision to pursue career in music, than as a doctor.
In 1986, "Ryō" became a backing member to a popular musician, "Shōgo Hamada", and worked with him for 10 years. And in 1989, "Ryō" also participated in "Shambara Project".
"Ryō" also became active as a film score composer. And in 1996, he released first solo album.
Since around 2001, he also became active in South Korea.
His 4th album "Pan-O-Rama" first releaed in Korea, and a song in this album was selected as a main theme for 14th Asian Games in Busan 2002.
Since then, "Ryō" build up more and more work in Korea, and in 2018, he was appointed as a music director for Opening & closing ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics, also known as "PyeongChang 2018".
For more details about him, please have a look at his Wikipedia page linked below.
(Ref: en.wikipedia.org, Yang Bang-ean (Kunihiko Ryō)
- Nozomi Furukawa (Gt)
-
"Nozomi Furukawa" is a guitarist, arranger, studio musician, and a former member of "Lalena", "Masaru Imada & NOWIN", and "Shambara", and a current member of "Furukawa Kyōdai" (Furukawa Brothers), active since 1981.
"Furukawa" started his music career in Osaka as a guitarist of a Progressive rock & Fusion band, "Lalena" in 1981, together with the band's keyboardist, and his elder brother "Hatsuho Furukawa".
After released two albums from "NOWIN", "Furukawa" left the band, and began to support various artists as a studio musician. And later in 1989, he became a founding member of the band "Shambara".
After the end of "Shambara" project, "Furukawa" returned to his profession as s a professional studio musician, and has been continuing it to date.
And in 2002, "Furukawa" formed new 5-piece instrumental group, "Furukawa Kyōdai" with his brother "Hatsuho Furukawa", and three other members including a former drummer of T-Square, "Hiroyuki Noritake".
For more details about him, please have a look at his profile page linked below.
(Ref:www.sayonara-shibuyaten.com, Nozomi Furukawa)
- Akira Jimbo (Dr)
-
"Akira Jimbo" is a drummer, composer, & arranger active since 1979.
"Jimbo" had been a member of a top Japanese fusion group "Casiopea" in the '80s. From that time, his exceptional super drum technique has been applauded not only in Japan but from overseas as well.
It might be why but, he was chosen as a member of "A hundred Japanese, being respected from the world" in 2007 by "News Week" magazine Japan edition.
For more details about him, please have a look at his Wikipedia page linked below.
(Ref:en.wikipedia.org, Akira Jimbo)
- Tetsuo Sakurai (Bs)
-
"Tetsuo Sakurai" is a bassist, composer, arranger, and music producer active since 1976.
We have covered a bit about "Tetsuo Sakurai" at "composer" part in "About the creators" section.
Please have a look at the section for more details about him. This is a link if you like. "About the artist, Tetsuo Sakurai".
Argument...
"Shambara" recorded their first album, and released it in the 20 July 1989. And on the very same day, the group held their debut concert at one of the most modern club in Tokyo.
One of the leading fashion designer, "Kansai Yamamoto" designed not only the stage costumes of the members, but also the live stage where the band was supposed to perform on there.
And yet, the members of "Shambara" appeared on a TV music variety show.
So, "Shambara" was already a serious band activity which was difficult to call it as a "Hobby", "private activity" or "side-work".
By seeing this situation, the other members of Casiopea, namely "Issei Noro" & "Minoru Mukaiya" expressed their concerns on "Shambara, since it might affect to the band activity of "Casiopea".
But "Jimbo" & "Sakurai" argued that "Shambara" & "Casiopea" could go together.
The talks between both ends could not reach an agreement on this matter.
Then, at the end of the day, the members of "Casiopea" had to take a decision to split their important group into two.
Inevitable
We are not sure if the story is true or not. But because of this side story, some "Casiopea" fans believed that "Shambara" was the culprit divided "Casiopea" Into two parts.
But we imagine that was an inevitable event for a band like them, since "Jimbo" was telling that members were all feeling exhausted to generate new ideas while working with the same people for a long time.
Saying, "I was having an image that suffocating Goldfish, living in a fishbowl, open and close their mouths beneath the surface."
Jimsaku
Good or bad, "Casiopea" was separated into two. And "Jimbo" & "Sakurai" formed a new Fusion group "Jimsaku" by themselves.
Two members were not able to re-activate "Shambara" project. But they began to explore new Fusion sound through their band "Jimsaku", by collaborating with a lot of excellent musicians in both domestic and overseas.
"Jimsaku" started their album release by performing Latin Fusion which the both members preferred at that time.
And they gradually changed their sound to the one which was more technical driven.
Anyway, it was a big change from "Casiopea".
On the other hand, the original "Casiopea" had also changed a lot by welcoming new drummer and bassist.
The new ensemble was so different. It was clear even they performed an old song.
So, different members generate a different sound.
So, good or bad, both teams seem to have experienced the unexpected changes.
Nature is miracle.
For more details about "Jimsaku", please have a look at their Wikipedia page linked below.
(Ref:en.wikipedia.org, Akira Jimbo)
Jimsaku 30th
In May 2020, for celebrating the 30th anniversary of "Jimsaku", a new project "JIMSAKU 30th Project" was launched by "Jimbo", "Sakurai" & King record.
The project contained various promotion events including an opening of special channel on Youtube.
And there have been interesting video clips which were posted by "Sakurai" & "Jimbo" on the channel.
And the main event was the release of a new album of "Jimsaku" on July 2021.
We have not listened to the full album yet. But just watched a trailer video.
And as far as we could listened to, the new album is excellent, and it was just like they have returned the original point.
If you like, please listen to.
We would like to introduce some video clips of them we watched, in later section.
References
-
(Ref: ryokunihiko.com,
profile)🇯🇵 -
(Ref: tetsuosakurai.com,
shambara)🇯🇵
Video clip
About the samples for today's song
As we have touched a bit in "greeting" section in the beginning, there seem to be no sample of "In the universe" has been offered from on-line music stores at the moment.
So, for the time being, please search for samples on the site like youtube.
We suppose you could find some if it's a lucky day for you.
Jinsaku 30th & Katsushika Trio
As referred, 2020 was the 30th anniversary of "Jimsaku", and there new album "Jimsaku Beyond" was released in 2021 as part of an anniversary project.
Thanks to the members & promoters of the project, a few of nice video clip have been uploaded.
So, we would like to select two clips from them, and introduce those two to you.
The first clip is a digested version of "Ai-no hikari" (The light of love) by Jimsaku featuring a rising violinist "Ai Takamatsu".
This is the last track of Jimsaku's new album "Jimsaku Beyond" released in July 2021.
Its rhythmic elegant, and slightly moist melody is reminiscent of early albums of Jimsaku.
If you like, please listen to.
The second clip is also a digested video about a live stage of "Katsushika trio" filmed in October 2021 in Tokyo.
"Katsushika trio" was the name of temporary session team formed by a drummer "Akira Jimbo", bassist "Tetsuo Sakurai", and keyboardist "Minoru Mukaiya". So, in other words, it was near "Casiopea" in the '80s.
(FYI. "Katsushika" is the name of the district (or ward) in Tokyo where the venue that accommodated the concert, is locating.)
The unit was formed as part of "Akira Jimbo" one-man concert.
"Katsushika trio" performed many numbers from albums of Casiopea in the '80s. Surprisingly, their sound was almost exactly "Casiopea" at that time, and it was not just a stuff brings back memories, but actually moving.
In the band, there seems to be a chemistry. This beautiful details of the sound are only created by these members. We understood.
Even the face of "Akira Jimbo" looks more relaxed than usual.
Perhaps. he was also enjoying playing with the members know each other inside out.
If you like, please listen to.
Music Samples
As mentioned in "Greeting" section, there are no commercial sample available at the moment for today's song "In the universe".
We are hoping that "Tower record", the re-issuer of this CD, might provide song samples someday, though there aren't any now.
We would like to update this page if we find samples of this song. So for the time being, please search for some on-line music sites like youtube.
AD: Listening samples (Free)
Tower records online
Japanese Letters
| Song Title | In the universe |
|---|---|
| Artist | Shambara |
| Album Title | Shambara |
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