手遅れに実現 (Late Realization) lp - haircuts for men - 2015

Favorite Tracks: They’re all beautifully crafted; but I do mention 決して見ません (never see) below.

Trying to remember the first time I heard this album is like trying to select a specific, yet faint memory in a vast sea of blurry and twisted hallucinations between dream and reality. Though I do recall looking for a chill album of music to play on my TV in the background while I worked on a drawing on my iPad (the drawing I worked on still eludes me though). The monochromatic album cover caught my eye, definitely recognizing it from somewhere; perhaps from one of the various chill/vaporwave radios I had been curating as a result of my recent vaporwave awareness (I refrain from claiming that I “discovered” it since it existed well before I knew about it).

Putting the album on satisfied my desire for creating a calming atmosphere. It’s a beautiful blend of mellow and calming with a soulful energetic twist that reminds me of some of the greatest jazz musicians I grew up listening to (thanks to my dad and grandfather). Thinking about it now, I wonder if I found myself drawn to it subconsciously because of those memories. Perhaps being reminded of those thoughts during my formative vaporwave years is why this album stands out in particular.

The LP is well curated, fluctuating from jazzy arrangements to more ambient tracks while maintaining cohesion. The melodies provide a sense of warmth that I find comforting. Particularly with 決して見ません (never see), I visualize myself somewhere heavenly, free from the burdens of my humanity, soaring to greater planes of existence and enlightenment. Listening to it again, I am reminded of the sheer sense of utter solace I felt; my fears, concerns, and worries seemed to wash away with waves of harmonic tranquility crashing over me. Candidly speaking, only 3 other songs in this world have brought tears to my eyes, so I remember this one with fondness in my heart.

Though I did decide to translate the names of the songs on the album, I didn’t feel like they influenced my interpretation in any way. They seem to relate to the variety of feelings someone would experience following a breakup, but I don't have much of a schema regarding feelings like those. I believe that good music speaks directly to the soul, not bound by the grammatical limitations of language. The plethora of interpretations people have of songs is what makes them so uniquely powerful; personal connections have a profound impact on the way we see and interpret the world. The way this album makes me feel is unique to me because of the way I live my own life, and the fact that each and every person can have just as personal and unique a connection to this music, or any music, is something I find incredibly special.

So, thanks for listening to me gush about a bunch of songs I found on the internet. I had been wanting to share my feelings about this because there are so few things in this world that I truly hold in high regard. Though there is a complete album version of this LP, it only adds one song, and personally, it feels like a bit of an awkward addition, so I decided to only focus on the core tracklist. It’s not too often you find little gems like this, so when you do, always cherish them, because like marigolds, they help you thrive.