Friendly and fashionable Daisuke puts the style back in Tokyo Record Style. I caught up with him outside of HMV in Shibuya (Interesting side note: Did you know that HMV stands for “His Master’s Voice” and that the possessive “His” refers to the tilted-head, white-furried, black-ear’d, music mascot, terrier mix, “Nipper” also known as the RCA Victor Dog, and that “master’s voice”, more specifically the deceased master’s voice, which in all the old advertisements, refers to what plays in the dog’s ear from the adjacent gramophone which sits atop, along with the dog, the deceased master’s coffin, yes coffin, as is “His master’s voice …from beyond the grave”, and is said to be the reason that Nipper looks so clearly befuddled.
The interesting K-9 side note continues: The very corner where I met Daisuke in front of HMV, is said to be the location where once long ago stood a house owned by none other than Professor Hidesaburo Ueno, the master of another very famous dog, a Japanese Shiba Inu known for returning to Shibuya Station every day for 10 years after his master died during a lecture. You may have heard of him: Hachiko. Something tells me he and Nipper would have been great pals. (Side note to side note: Did you know Hachiko had a twin bother, named Pachiko?)
So… Daisuke scored one of the most famous and iconic records of all time, a record that could be in the running of albums that I have listened to the very most in all my life. What can be said about Dark Side of the Moon that hasn’t been said already? Considering what I had written above, I wondering if DSOTM had any dog references, even though this whole dog thing is just supposed to be an “interesting side note” and that I’m actually supposed to be writing about Daisuke’s amazing style, (which actually, too, has a dog reference in it that I will eventually get to) but my curiosity about any dogs in DSOTM, I was just inadvertently led to what may be the most transcendent musical experience I’ve had in the last 10 years, no joke. I just now, is in moments ago, had my mind absolutely fucking blown by Roger Water’s 2023 release (from last October) of “Dark Side of the Moon Redux” which features a dog’s eye on the cover (See photos) and which totally slipped under my radar when it was released. I can hardly collect myself to say something about it because it was such a personal, poetic, and profound re-interpretation of DSOTM, a love letter to itself, as much of a timely rights-of-passage now as it has ever for every person who has ever been moved by the original. It’s the bookend of the concept, it’s the metaphorical heartbeat, the one not at the beginning of the original, but the one at the end, stretched backwards to the beginning. It’s a reflection on the original in the most meaningful voice that event could reflect on it. Apparently the critics didn’t give it much love, it took my breath away. I think I will never forget the day that I heard this heartfelt Redux. It had everything, deadly fear, beauty, tragedy, hope, even comedy. It compares only to itself really, but for the sake of explanation, think of Johnny Cash’s “American IV: The Man Comes Around” with the rendition of Trent Reznor’s “Hurt”, or think of Bowie’s Black Star. It’s absolutely sublime. I’m beside myself.
I just had a profound musical-appreciation experience and I’m babbling. But just wow. WOW. wow…
Sorry, Daisuke that I got carried away there with my “interesting side note” but THANK YOU for buying this record that really everyone should own cuz let’s face it: either you love Dark Side of the Moon, or you’re just fucking lying …but again, thank you, Daisuke that your score led me to this sublime musical experience just now. Ok, can we talk about STYLE for a second?
So when I asked Daisuke to tell me a little about himself, he explained that he was into fashion, vintage fashion, specifically French vintage fashion, and when I took a step back to check out his digs with a bit more of a discerning eye, it all became more clear. Daisuke was wearing a beautiful French corduroy hunting jacket from the 30’s for 40’s, replete with hounds buttons! He also sported some vintage British Navy trousers and a seemingly matching wool hat. Handmade-in-France circa 70’s chunky tortoise eyeglass frames from “Lesca” matched a gorgeous automatic Omega Seamaster Date, while some sensible (but no doubt spendy) New Balance 990s went well for a preppy look with the Freitag bag (perfect record-sized).
Dogs and fashion. Went off the rails there a bit, but hey, it happens. Great meeting you Daisuke. Congrats on adding Dark Side of the moon to your ~600 piece collection. Good luck with your studies and your continued fashion passion! See ya at the record store again some day!
More Tokyo Record Style on the way! Go check out Dark Side of the Moon Redux, headphones and late at night recommended!
Pink Floyd – The Dark Side Of The Moon
Label: Harvest – SMAS-11163
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Winchester Pressing, Wly Mastering, Gatefold
Country: US
Released: Mar 1, 1973
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock
https://www.discogs.com/release/367104-Pink-Floyd-The-Dark-Side-Of-The-Moon
Roger Waters – The Dark Side Of The Moon Redux
Label: Cooking Vinyl – SGB50LP
Format: 2 x Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country: Europe
Released: Oct 6, 2023
Genre: Rock
Style: Classic Rock
https://www.discogs.com/release/28504483-Roger-Waters-The-Dark-Side-Of-The-Moon-Redux
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