Message #1: Robin Guthrie (Cocteau Twins) |
I really had not much of an idea of Japanese music because in Europe people are more reluctant to accept artists who do not sing in English. I'm sad about that because through Yu-Ra I have confirmed what I always believed to be true, that emotion and passion in music has no linguistic boundaries. I mean when Kumiko and Ritsuko sing you feel and you understand. When I first heard Yu-Ra I heard a voice....... being carried by music..... that told a story defined by the atmosphere.... I closed my eyes and this music transported me around the world to places high and low, far and wide. Then I thought to myself that I would like to be part of that... The next thing I know is I have two very beautiful, but shy and nervous girls in my studio wanting to make a record..My Japanese vocabulary at that time only consisted of various varieties of fish therefore the assistance of my long time colleague Mitsuo Tate was needed. These girls are very talented with a clear idea of what they want to achieve. I'd like to explain that my role in producing was that of a conduit, filtering their idea's through me and refining the atmospheres. I believe that we pushed some songs in a different direction from they had been going and we introduced many instruments not before used by Yu-Ra...And most fun of all....I play guitar on several tracks of "Beyond the Pale". I like this record...I hope you like it too oh, and I had fun making it.....
(日本語訳) |
Message #2: JEAN-MICHEL-TATE (Cocteau Twins) |
君たちの音楽は純粋な愛です。音楽という言葉で、心から心へ語りかけてくる愛です。そんな君たちの音楽が僕は大好きです。FROM ENGLAND with Love. |
Message #3: ハービー山口 |
YU-RAの音はラベンダーの香り YU-RAの音楽を聴くたびに、僕は過ぎ去ったある日の自分を思い出す。それは二十代の初め、僕がロンドンに移り住んだ頃だった。郊外の公園に行った。深い緑、丘を渡る風、まばらな人影、その美しさに驚き感動した日だった。その時僕は生まれて始めて、自分の国籍、年齢、地位などの総ての鎖から解放され、裸の自分を発見し、新しいエネルギーを感じたのだ。川底から湧き出る清水のように清潔なYU-RAの音は、僕の若い日を呼びさまし、それでいてポジティブな明日をのぞかせてくれる。彼女たちの優しく、時に力強い音に触れるたび、僕は快感に浸り、そっと目を閉じる。どこまでも緑が広がり、ラベンダーの香りが風に運ばれてくる。いつのまにか僕の心は浄化されている。 |