Music / the AEGEAN SEA

the AEGEAN SEA is an instrumental collaborative album between Japanese artists Haruomi Hosono, Takahiko Ishikawa and Masataka Matsutoya. Released through CBS/Sony in 1979, it is part of Sony's Sound Image album series, along with Pacific, another album which has Hosono involved.

Like its title and cover art suggests, the album references Classical Mythology and Greek culture, showcasing folkloric music akin to countries bordering the Mediterranean sea (particularly Fado). Matsutoya was part of Hosono's Tin Pan Alley Band while Ishikawa was the former member of folk band Rokumonsen.

Trackist

Side A

1. "Aegean Fantasy" (6:47)
   1. "Miserarete"
   2. "Island Girl"
2. "Atlantis" (3:02)
3. "Reggae Aegan Woman" (3:58)
4. "Mykonos Bride" (3:58)

Side B

5. "Image" (6:53)
6. "The Rose Between Waves" (5:22)
7. "Day Break" (4:22)
8. "Aphrodite's Mourning" (3:55)

---

This album provides examples of:

• Character Title: "Aphrodite's Mourning".
• Concept Album: Part of it is about Greek culture and the musical style of Mediterranean countries.
• Epic Rocking: "Aegean Fantasy" clocks in at 6:47, while "Image" goes on for nearly seven minutes.
• Fade Out: All songs except "Atlantis" and "Aphrodite's Mourning" end with a fade-out.
• Genre Shift: Most songs on the album are played in a Jazz Fusion style while "Aegean Fantasy" and "Aphrodite's Mourning" sound closer to Fado.
• Instrumentals: The entire album doesn't feature any vocals, in a similar fashion to Pacific, which only had scarce lyrics on one track.
• Location Song: "Atlantis" and "Mykonos Bride".
• Mood Whiplash: "Image" starts with a slow melancholic ballad before the 0:30 mark where it becomes a cheery tune.
• One-Woman Song: "Reggae Aegean Woman" and "Mykonos Bride".
• One-Word Title: "Atlantis" and "Image".
• The Place: This album is the third release of Sony Music's Sound Image album series, where all albums are named after a geographical area (the first being Pacific and the second one being New York). In this case, the album is named after the Aegean Sea, which is located between Greece and Turkey and is connected to the Mediterranean Sea.
• Siamese Twin Songs: "Aegean Fantasy" consists of two interconnected movements: "Miserarete" (Japanese for "enchanted") and "Island Girl".
• Special Guest: YMO members Yukihiro Takahashi and Hideki Matsutake are session players on the album.
• Spell My Name With An S: Masataka Matsutoya is somehow credited as "Matsutohya" on this album. He has also been credited as "Matsutouya" on other releases.

---