Meet Kokoe (and Kouki)!
I actually met them last year at Replace Records in Nishiogikubo last year and it’s only now I’m getting around to sharing our encounter! Kokoe was a victim of being in the wrong place at the right time, or the right place at the wrong time, you decide. Days before I had spotted, at Replace, a rare and coveted, first Japanese pressing of Rocket to Russia by the Ramones, with a lovely Obi that really made the cover pop, posted the image I took of it maybe on my Instagram, soon after which Tony from the previous story reached out and said “WHOA! I’m dying for that record! Can you find out the price” So I returned to Replace, which happens to be the closest indie record shop to my home, barely closer than Hummingbird in Shimokita or Coconuts in Kichijoji, and it was during that visit that Kokoe and Koki happened to be record shopping. Being friendly with Kojima san, the owner, we sparked up a conversation which I think sparked the interest of Kokoe and soon we were introduced.
If you’re following Tokyo Record Style close enough, or if you’re simply spending enough time in records stores, you’ll know that lovely birds of the fairer sex are, while by no means absent from the feed, they are slightly more rare, and indeed more curious considering the overwhelming tilt of mania towards vinyl by brutes like me, that I never miss a chance to take interest in them, and this time lucky for us, Kokoe was keen to share her time, her passions, her smile, and her recent record SCORE, Yumi Arai’s, “Yuming Brand Part 2!”
When I asked Kokoe why she was drawn to records, she told me it was because they were analogue (something I deeply relate to). She explained that she was curious about how they worked and how a need in a spinning groove could miraculously draw out sound! Indeed cool, and a bit mind-blowing, I agree! When I asked Kokoe when she started collecting records, she replied “Today! This is my first record!” WHOOOOAAA!!!! NICE! Welcome to the club, Kokoe! Happy to have you in the gang! She went one to tell me she had only recently scored her frist record place and this album would be her first to play on it! Wow, that is so supremely cool! And great choice! This Yuming Record is chock full of her charming voice and songs, and the sweet sounds of the Caramel Mama gang! You can’t go wrong!
Great to meet you and thanks for your patience while I got these images out there! Looking forward to seeing you at the record store again and seeing where your record-collecting journey takes you! Until next time!
More TRS on the Way!
Yumi Arai – Yuming Brand Part 2
Label: Alfa – ALR-6025
Format: Vinyl, LP, Compilation
Country: Japan
Released: 1979
Genre: Rock, Funk / Soul, Pop
Style: Kayōkyoku, Folk Rock, Pop Rock, Ballad, City Pop
https://www.discogs.com/release/3538519-Yumi-Arai-Yuming-Brand-Part-2
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