New AL tracklist announced!

Yoeko's staff Twitter announced yesterday that the new official website is finally online! Besides that, the new album cover and tracklist were also made public.

As mentioned before, similarly to 2006's Ochuugen, the tracklist consists of self-covers and a new song.
The album cover features the same drawing from the promotional picture, by Miyo Tsuchiya.

Yoeko mentions that all tracks were arranged by Bin Sugawara, from Re-Trick (a Japanese band self-described as an "aggressive jazz trio"), and that depending on the album demand/purchases she would be planning a "New Yoeko Part II".

The online store shall open in 5 days with the album pre-order and some other goods (T-shirt, keychain, ecobag and more) produced by Andorinha. 

Yoeko "New Yoeko"
(ヨエコ「ニューヨエコ」)

Pre-order starts: July 20
Release date: September 20
Media: CD
Catalog number: NWYK-0001
Price: 3000 JPY
Label: Craques Onze
Distribution: PCI MUSIC
-
Tracklist:
01 tomodachi no uta (4 beat version)
(from AL kaitai piano, 2008)
02 yona yona yona
(from AL fujinyou, 2002)
03 tamagotoji
(from AL tadaima, 2005)
04 hiru no tsuki
(from AL tadaima, 2005)
05 kyou mo ame
(from AL iroiro, 2006)
06 dopamine
(new song)
07 tate
(from AL tadaima, 2005)
*Includes a special making of video, not specified in which media format*

I think it's a good sign to see songs from her Warner and Victor era being covered in this album. For me it means that, first of all, there are no legal restrictions in regards to her old material. Except for... her "lost" First Aid Network album Tokyo Piano, which was the only one that never got reissued and is the only one still missing from streaming platforms.

That also shows that, from an artistic point of view, this new Yoeko is ready to re-visit her Kurahashi days. <3

Total random fact, I'm specially happy to see some words from my native language featured in this post... Andorinha (goods maker) is Portuguese for swallow bird, and Craques Onze (record label) could be translated to... Soccer star (jersey number) eleven. :-)

Source: [Official Twitter] [Official Website] [Online Store]

EDIT: I'm not even sure if anyone still visits this, but I forgot to mention that I'm preparing a new website layout to celebrate this new era! It's meant to feature some more up-to-date web elements and this should make it easier to navigate via web and mobile browsers. Yes it will be just as ugly as this one or even more!

New album release

Promotional picture, drawn by Miyo Tsuchiya

Yoeko has announced via Twitter that a new album is in the works!

"New Yoeko" (possibly a wordplay with "New York") will feature a mix of self-covers and new songs.

Pre-orders start on July 20th, exactly 15 years after her last concert at Tokyo Kinema Club, and release date is set to September 20th, her birthday. 

A teaser video was published on Yoeko's YouTube channel featuring a new version of Tomodachi no uta.

Pre-orders will be available from her official store and more information will be posted on her official Twitter soon.

Source: Natalie.Mu
[Official Twitter] [Staff Twitter] [Official Website] [Online Store]

Yoeko "New Yoeko"
(ヨエコ「ニューヨエコ」)

Pre-order starts: July 20
Release date: September 20
Media: CD
Catalog number: NWYK-0001
Price: 3000 JPY
Label: Craques Onze
Distribution: PCI MUSIC
-
Tracklist: TBA; tomodachi no uta '4bit version' and more (self-covers and new songs).

Welcome back

I never really thought I would be writing about this, but Yoeko just announced on Twitter that she will resume her activities under the name "Yoeko" (no Kurahashi) after exactly 15 years since she announced her retirement. The announcement was made on Twitter. 

[Twitter] [Website] [YouTube] [Online Shop]

(click to download PDF version) 

This website was first published (also) exactly 13 years ago (July 2010), and a lot has happened during this time... For me, listening to and making a website about Yoeko is one of those teenage hobbies that we lose touch with as we mature. Yes, I still listen to the music I did back when I was that age... some because I still enjoy it, and some because it gives me that feeling of going back to a very specific cherished time in the past.

After learning from a person close to her about some of the reasons why she retired, it made me sad to the point where it has been hard to enjoy her music again ever since.

This announcement makes me glad on a different level than just the "I'm really looking forward to listening to new songs from this artist" level. I'm genuinely happy that this person who brought so much joy to my teenage self is comfortable with showing her art again.

I feel like there is a point in life where the music we love is not as interesting anymore, the friends we made are not as reachable as they used to be, and that makes us end up losing a little bit of ourselves along the way - maybe that's what getting old means. These news kind of brought back a small piece of me from that time. Welcome back :)