Makoto Matsushita, well-known guitarist from the fusion funk genre, Japanese multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, lyricist and vocalist born in 1955, created one of the great City Pop masterpieces from Japan with the stunning album First Light, here finally reissued on audiophile 2LP vinyl cut at 45rpm for the ultimate dynamic sound.

• Limited Numbered Edition
• Mastered and Pressed in Japan
• Audiophile Double LP
• 45rpm cut for incredible sound quality
• Deluxe Gatefold Cover

"One of the finest albums of the era, First Light’s tightly wound pop/AOR is an album that spawned the start of a trailblazing three-album trilogy. Despite the enduring life First Light has, its creation was a complete stroke of luck.

Then 21 years old, Matsushita was told by a senior musician that Nichion Studio had recently installed a new 16-track recording console. Invited to participate in a test recording, he recorded “September Rain,” one of the album’s stronger tracks.

The enduring success of September Rain led to the opportunity for Matsushita to record his debut album. Up to this point, Matsushita was an arranger and session musician, recording on albums like Mai Yamane’s Tasogare, another great record. Matsushita had his big break, but it also meant that he worked tirelessly on First Light.

“When I made this album, it was a really busy time. It was natural to stay up all night two or three days a week, and on holidays I was just sleeping or resting.”

And it’s easy to hear why. The musicianship on First Light is stunning. Yasuo Tomikura’s bass is out of this world. It walks up and down, but remains firmly nested in the pocket. Matsushita’s fretwork is commendable, especially when you realise he was only 21 when he laid down the riffs and chords on First Light.

Taking advantage of the 16-track digital recorder, Matsushita’s multi-tracked vocals are slathered all over First Light. Floating and ethereal, they accentuate the late-night magic that the record oozes.

Listen closely and you’ll hear very distinct Western influences all over. Unlike his contemporaries like Tatsuro Yamashita and Hiroshi Sato who both got their sound splashing cash and recording albums with American musicians, Matsushita preferred to remain in Tokyo and use his ears to his advantage.

Working hard in Tokyo, Matsushita took inspiration from the hardest working band in the United States: Steely Dan.

And he isn’t shy about it. On “Lazy Night,” the distinctive chord progressions are taken straight from “Glamour Profession” from Steely Dan’s Gaucho (1980). But he takes it two steps further. The distinct three-note riff from Glamour Profession’s Fender Rhodes are replicated, and he name-checks the band itself.

Even the style of the album’s production is conceptually similar to Steely Dan. Matsushita hired purely studio musicians to participate in the recording — none of the names have any major solo careers. Compared to Taeko Ohnuki, who has Sakamoto, Shimizu and Hosono all lined up like ducks in a row, First Light’s roster looks bleak until the needle’s in the groove.

Unlike other albums of the era, First Light remains conceptually rooted in itself. While albums from Tatsuro Yamashita and Toshiki Kadomatsu have very obvious filler tracks, First Light is well, almost perfect.

The title track’s opening bass line and drum fills kick the album off on a high note. “From the East… to the West,” Matsushita sings with confidence and other-worldly ambition.

“One Hot Love” is a funky, soft-rock song reminiscent of The Doobie Brothers. Satisfying guitar fills layer the track with effortless simplicity.

“September Rain” is one of the outstanding tracks on here. Ethereal vocals, drowned out guitars and Matsushita’s emotional singing play out like raindrops forming on the exterior of a car window.

When Air Records/RVC Corporation was bought out by Moon Records, they had Matsushita re-record the track in English for the 1982 re-release.

“Since it was the first album, I tried to make good quality pop without being too lazy.”

And what good quality pop it was. I could go on and on, but the point is this — First Light’s ambition and Matsushita’s desire to impress created one of the greatest Japanese albums of all time.

Indeed, it deserves more attention. Much, much more attention." ~ VelvetMotel / Medium

Track Listing:

A1 - First Light
A2 - One Hot Love
B1 - Resort For Blue
B2 - September Rain
B3 - Lazy Night
C1 - This Is All I Have For You
C2 - I Know…
C3 - Love Was Really Gone
D1 - Sunset
D2 - September Rain (English Version)

Click here to listen to samples on YouTube.com ♫