Ichiko Aoba - Windswept Adan (LP)

Originally released in 2020, Japanese singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Ichiko Aoba's seventh studio album, Windswept Adan, was a critically acclaimed masterpiece that firmly established her on the global stage. Marking a significant departure from her earlier, more solitary works, Aoba collaborated with composer Taro Umebayashi to craft a mesmerising and richly imaginative concept album that moves fluidly between ambient psych-folk, chamber classical, and jazz-inflected composition. Conceived as the soundtrack to an imaginary film, Windswept Adan follows a young girl exiled from her homeland to the mythic island of Adan - a lush, otherworldly place filled with strange creatures, abundant flora and fauna, and no spoken language. It's orchestral textures and vivid sound design create an immersive, cinematic world. The iconic cover art reflects the album's intricate world-building, brought to life by creative director Kodai Kobayashi following extensive research trips to the southern islands of Japan. This long-awaited reissue is pressed on black eco-mix vinyl, in an effort to be as sustainable as possible.