Fun 9
Fun 9 is the fourth studio album by Japanese musician Takako Minekawa. It was released on July 7, 1999 by Polystar.[4] The album was released on November 16, 1999 in the United States by Emperor Norton Records.[5]
Fun 9 | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | July 7, 1999 | |||
Studio | Burning Trailer | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 36:17 | |||
Label | Polystar | |||
Producer |
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Takako Minekawa chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
Emperor Norton issue |
The album's title is pronounced "fun-kyū", the latter half of the title referring to the Japanese equivalent of the numeral 9, and is intended to sound similar to the word "funk".[6][7]
Critical reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [3] |
Alternative Press | 4/5[8] |
Pitchfork | 8.3/10[9] |
Heather Phares of AllMusic wrote that Minekawa had produced a "more eclectic and polished" record while retaining her "playful musical vision", "[fashioning] a wide array of lush, lighthearted songs into an album that is as self-assured as it is fun".[3]
Drowned in Sound writer Samuel Rosean cited Fun 9 as a key Shibuya-kei release in a 2018 retrospective article.[1] Tokyo Weekender's Ed Cunningham recommended Fun 9 to fans of Cornelius' album Fantasma (1997).[2]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Gently Waves" | Takako Minekawa | 1:50 |
2. | "Plash" |
| 4:11 |
3. | "Flow in a Tide" (フィーチャリング) |
| 3:42 |
4. | "Fantastic Voyage" |
| 4:56 |
5. | "Tiger" |
| 4:46 |
6. | "Shh Song" | Minekawa | 1:52 |
7. | "Spin Spider Spin" |
| 2:56 |
8. | "Flash" |
| 1:21 |
9. | "Fun 9 (French)" | Minekawa | 0:09 |
10. | "Soft Graffiti" |
| 4:58 |
11. | "Fancy Work Funk" |
| 5:36 |
Total length: | 36:17 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
12. | "Etoufée" |
| 2:53 |
Total length: | 39:10 |
Personnel
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[10]
Musicians
- Takako Minekawa – vocals, acoustic guitar, guitar, turntables, arrangement
- Craig Borrell – analog synthesizer, MTI Auto-Orchestra synthesizer, trumpet, turntables, vocals, backing vocals
- Michiko Endo – additional vocals on "Flow in a Tide", acoustic gutiar on "Soft Graffiti"
- Ross Harris – analog synthesizer, bass, Boss SP-303 sampler, drum machine, guitar, turntables
- Toyoaki Misha – sound manipulation
- Keigo Oyamada – acoustic guitar, bass, drums, guitar, Stylophone keyboard, turntables
- Takahiro Unno – French horn on "Spin Spider Spin"
Production
- Takako Minekawa – production
- DJ Me DJ You – production
- Tadashi Matsuda – mixing, recording
- Michifumi Onodera – mixing
- Keigo Oyamada – production
- Tohru Takayama – mixing
References
- Rosean, Samuel (December 29, 2018). "A Beginner's Guide: Shibuya Kei". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- Cunningham, Ed (March 31, 2020). "A Complete Guide to Shibuya-kei: Tokyo's '90s Music Revival". Tokyo Weekender. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- Phares, Heather. "Fun 9 – Takako Minekawa". AllMusic. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
- "fun9 | 嶺川貴子" (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- "Upcoming Releases". CMJ New Music Report. Vol. 60 no. 9. November 15, 1999. pp. 34–35. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- Basford, Lee. "Milk Rock" (PDF). Level. pp. 24–25. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
- Tartan, Suzannah (October 15, 1999). "Tell JB to get a new bag -- this girl's got her own funk". The Japan Times. Retrieved September 13, 2020.
- "Takako Minekawa: Fun 9". Alternative Press. No. 141. April 2000. p. 92.
- Richard-San, Mark (July 6, 1999). "Takako Minekawa: Fun9". Pitchfork. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
- Fun 9 (liner notes). Takako Minekawa. Emperor Norton Records. 1999. EMN 7022.CS1 maint: others (link)