Nanaco Sato shares new single ‘A Rolling Stone From Heaven’ ft. the late John Renbourn (Pentangle) and a remix b-side by Simon Ratcliffe (Basement Jaxx)
Nanaco Sato | Credit: Meisha Fujishiro
Today, inimitable and borderless Japanese poet and singer-songwriter Nanaco Sato returns with the details of her new album ‘LUST’. To mark the announcement, the septuagenarian trailblazer has shared a new single titled ‘A Rolling Stone From Heaven’, which features a guest contribution from the late British guitarist John Renbourn of renowned British folk-rock band Pentangle. The single is also accompanied by a B-side which sees the track remixed by Simon Ratcliffe of Basement Jaxx.
‘A Rolling Stone From Heaven’ is taken from an album recording session in 1996 at London’s now-defunct, legendary studio Maison Rouge. Originally conceived as an improvised acapella, Sato sent the track to Renbourn who later added intricate and dramatic guitar work that dances around her ethereal and unrestrained vocals. Speaking on the single, Sato says, “the lyrics were like a poem about John, whom I had never even met. He was based in Scotland at the time. My engineer Akira Fuiji sent it to him, and he played guitar on it. It was so breathtakingly beautiful, I couldn't stop crying.” That poignant sentiment rings true in the final version; the natural ebb and flow between the two gives the impression that Renbourn was in the studio with Sato at the time of writing.
Listen to ‘A Rolling Stone From Heaven’ here
In the here and now, that same acapella has also been remixed by Simon Ratcliffe of Basement Jaxx. The reworking is described by Sato as “another miracle”, going on to say “now, the song soars with John's spirit amidst entirely new vistas.”
Listen to the remix here
‘A Rolling Stone From Heaven’ is the first excerpt to come from Sato’s new album ‘LUST’. Having sat in her closet for 29-years, the record is now set for release on 25th September via London analog specialists Gearbox Records (Knats, Art Blakey, Robin Katz, Liza Lo, Elliot Galvin). Recorded across 1996-97 at Maison Rouge, the album captures not only Sato’s truly eclectic nature but also a snapshot of spontaneous, jam-session recordings that feature a vast array of estimable musicians such as Danny Cummings (Dire Straits / Bryan Adams), Brinsley Ford (AZWAD), Dan Boutwood (Iannello), James Denham (Addict), Charles Price (Scissor Men), and many more.
Tracks here span everything from abstract jazz vocals (‘Love Trip’), Tibetan folk (‘The Sorrow Of The Wind’), and psychedelic pop (‘Mad Memories’) to global rhythms (‘Angel Whispers Midnight’), avant-rock (‘A Dirge For Coral’), undulating sitars (‘Never Ending Love Letter’), funk-rock workouts (‘Hell’s Bloom’), and much more. It’s a record that defies neat categorisation, and speaks to both Sato’s prolific and explorative musical career, as well as the unconstrained way in which it was conceived.
Going on to speak about the writing of the album, she says, “I brought lots of poems I'd written, chose one based on how I felt in the moment, showed it to everyone, shared a few keywords about the kind of song I wanted next, and we recorded as we jammed. 'LUST' is a complete dream recording, it was incredibly thrilling and fun. I'm sure everyone involved - the late John Renbourn, engineer Akira Fujii, and the now-defunct legendary studio Maison Rouge- would be delighted.”
‘Lust’ is out 25th September via Gearbox Records – pre-order here
More information about Nanaco Sato:
Born in Tokyo in 1955, Nanaco Sato’s unique, coquettish hushed voice saw her become a pioneer of the Shibuya-kei movement (an eclectic Japanese pop microgenre from the mid-to-late 1990s, originating in Tokyo's Shibuya district). A fount of creativity, Sato has been releasing music for over 45-years with a discography that has seen her work with the likes of Nippon Columbia, EMI Japan, and Bella Union, collaborating with Cocteau Twins’ Simon Raymond, who produced her 1998 album “‘Luminous Love In 2023’. Further collaborations also saw Sato work with the likes of Japanese luminaries such as Moonriders, Kazuhiko Kato, and Pizzicato Five, the latter of which she had a worldwide hit with (‘Twiggy Twiggy’).
In addition to her ongoing musical career, Sato is also a skilled photographer and filmmaker, having lived in Paris for 5 years making short films, she also studied film making at New York University. She has created advertisements and commercials for Nissan, as well as working for numerous musical publications, and creating artwork for other artists. Ever the renaissance woman, she has also scored and soundtracked several films including work by Japanese director Shiro Maeda and more.
Sato also regularly performs in a jazz- and rock-oriented trio with guitarist Susumu Osada, who also appears on ‘LUST’.
Tracklisting:
1. Home Sweet Home
2. The Sorrow Of The Wind
3. Love Trip
4. Mad Memories
5. Lust - Love Underground
6. A Bullet Hole In My Ear
7. Never Ending Love Letter
8. Angel Whispers Midnight
9. Hazy Sky
10. Hell’s Bloom
11. A Postman’s Love
12. A Dirge For Coral
13. Rainbow
14. A Rolling Stone From Heaven
