Ryota Miyake‘s solo project Sparrows is readying his Berries LP for release on September 27th via the Japanese label FLAU Records. In anticipation of the upcoming album, let’s finish the week with a listen to the track “The Star Tours.” While the inspiration that travel brings has always been important for Miyake, Berries‘ globe-spanning interests include contributions from Fazerdaze (New Zealand), Julián Mayorga (Spain), Casey MQ (Canada), Vincent Ruiz aka Yung Veerp (Switzerland), and Kamron Saniee (Iranian-American).
Discussing the new record, Miyake explains that he was looking for a sound that was “a little hard-boiled and rough,” but informed by a notion of “travel” akin to “science fiction.” Looking back to the “puffy life I had spent abroad,” a time that included listening to “jazz, fusion, and soul,” the musician further relays that he sought to combine those influences with the “pale, dreamy, psychic atmosphere I had always liked.”
All of those sonic inspirations come thru on the track “The Star Tours.” Miyake describes it as a “pre-YMO fusion,” and the legendary Japanese band’s influence can definitely be heard throughout the cut’s swanky, electro vibe. Cool, funky, and forward-thinking, “The Star Tours” is also awash in cosmic details making it the perfect accompaniment for late-night star-tripping.
