Wewantsounds presents the release of Akiko Yano's cult 1979 album 7 O'Clock in Tokyo, recorded live in September 1978 at a pivotal moment in Japanese music history, just as Yellow Magic Orchestra was about to take the world by storm (Yano would tour the world with the group in 1979). Featuring a very funky Yano performance accompanied by Haruomi Hosono, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and Yukihiro Takahashi, plus Tatsuro Yamashita and Minako Yoshida, the album is presented outside Japan for the first time, with remastered audio, original artwork, and a four-page insert including new liner notes by Paul Bowler. Akiko Yano holds a unique place in Japan's musical history. Emerging in the mid-'70s while still in her early 20s, she quickly gained attention for her inventive songwriting, versatile singing, playful melodies, and genre-blending mix of pop, jazz, funk, and experimental sounds. Her influence has since reached far beyond Japan, earning her a devoted international following that includes Mac DeMarco, Clairo, and Jessy Lanza. By the late '70s, she had become closely connected with the members of Yellow Magic Orchestra, joining them on their first international tour in 1979. 7 O'Clock in Tokyo, captured live in September 1978, features Yano with a band including the three musicians performing a concert to support her third studio album, To-Ki-Me-Ki, just as YMO was preparing to take the world stage with their debut album. This performance offers a compelling snapshot of a pivotal moment in Japanese pop, when musical boundaries were being explored and new sounds were emerging. The concert highlights Yano's distinctive blend of Japanese pop and funk, with a superb rendition of "To-Ki-Me-Ki's" title track and "Katarun Kararan" from the same album, plus "Satchan," a playful piece performed with Yano accompanying herself on acoustic piano. The album closes with "Walk on the Way of Life," an eight-minute funky finale that brings the musicians together in a groovy performance, underlining both their versatility and the energy of the show.
