Ayuo Takahashi – Carmina
Ayuo Takahashi – Carmina
Japan Original Pressing.
An extraordinary 1984 debut that seems to exist outside time — biwa, analogue electronics, drones, drum machines and ancient folk memory merging into a strange, luminous world of its own.
Recorded when Ayuo Takahashi was only 22, Carmina is one of those rare records that seems to belong to no single period, country or genre. Mostly performed by Ayuo himself, it brings together biwa, acoustic strings, synthesizers, drum machines, drones and voice with an imagination that feels both ancient and futuristic.
“Grasslands” opens a vast, almost weightless landscape, while “Lament,” “Modern Biwa-Song” and “Earthquake” move through psychedelic folk, ambient space, ritualistic repetition and stark electronic textures. Traditional instruments are never treated as decoration — they exist naturally beside machines, as if centuries of musical history have temporarily collapsed into the same room.
Calling this simply Japanese ambient misses what makes it so special. Carmina is music without borders — primitive and sophisticated, pastoral and electronic, deeply old and strangely ahead of its time. A genuinely singular record.
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About the Condition
About the Condition
| Grade | Description |
|---|---|
| S (Sealed) | Still sealed in factory wrap. Never played. |
| M (Mint) | Perfect condition. Looks unplayed with no signs of use. Typically used for records that are brand new or opened but never played. |
| EX (Excellent) | Very clean. May have light scuffs or hairline marks, but plays perfectly. |
| VG+ (Very Good Plus) | Minor wear, light surface noise, no major flaws — a solid average used copy. |
| VG (Very Good) | Visible wear and surface noise. Plays through without skipping. |
| G+ (Good Plus) | Heavily used. Significant wear or scratches, but still playable. |
+ / − may be added to indicate slight variations (e.g. VG+, EX−).
We visually inspect every record, and we clean each one before shipping (play-testing when needed). Even new or great-looking vinyl—especially some Japanese pressings—can have light background noise. We grade carefully by eye and ear, but it’s still a human call, so please check the notes before buying.
Shipping & Packing
Shipping & Packing
Tokyo-based. Ships worldwide (DHL/Japan Post).
Professionally packed with care. Fast dispatch.
Strict grading. Actual photos of the item.
