International Sad Hits
The four singer-songwriters collected in the compilation International Sad Hits Vol. One were record store discoveries for Damon & Naomi, found while touring Japan, Korea, and Turkey. The compilation’s release prompted Damon & Naomi and Mikami Kan to tour Japan together, and Mikami Kan to play with Kim Doo Soo for the Korean singer’s first Japanese shows. What started as an archival project developed into a living exchange across international borders.
Continuing this exchange are two other releases in the series: The first is by electric guitarist Michio Kurihara, a long-time Damon & Naomi collaborator who has played on many of their albums and tours in addition to his long career recording and touring with Japanese bands Ghost and Boris. Sunset Notes is his only solo work, a poetic, instrumental ode to the time of day Kurihara perhaps loves most.
The second is by Kassin, a Brazilian multi-instrumentalist, arranger and producer long admired by Damon & Naomi. Dreaming Slowly is his first solo work and is also something of a concept album - in this case, Kassin's love of dreaming unleashes a wild ride through his musical imagination.
International Sad Hits, Volume One: Altaic Language Group
Fikret Kizilok (Turkey) / Kim Doo Soo (Korea) / Tomokawa Kazuki (Japan) / Mikami Kan (Japan)
“Some of the coolest trance-inducing musicians are living in Japan . . . and Mr. Kurihara [is] the scene’s Jimmy Page.” – New York Times
A concept album about dreams, from the Brazilian musician and producer known best in the US and Europe for his albums on Luaka Bop as a member of the “+2′s”
ONLINE BONUS
International Sad Hits, Volume Two: The Iberian Peninsula
The second compilation in the series was never officially released, but is available to enjoy on YouTube!