杏里 - Heaven Beach ヘブンビーチ

Review by carlo cottone

Album Review: Heaven Beach ヘブンビーチ by 杏里 (Anri) Released in 1982 under For Life Records, Heaven Beach is a vibrant showcase of Japan’s City Pop and Disco scene. With its lush arrangements, smooth grooves, and undeniable charm, this album feels like a time capsule of early '80s optimism filtered through the lens of Funk, Soul, and Pop sensibilities. Produced with meticulous care—thanks to Ichizo Seo’s arrangements and Nobuo Tsunetomi’s direction—it’s no wonder that this record remains a cult favorite among genre enthusiasts. The album kicks off with “Flash Back Memories,” a track that immediately sets the tone. It’s hard not to be swept away by the shimmering synths and tight rhythm section courtesy of bassists like Chiharu Mikuzuki and drummers such as Hidenobu Takimoto. The harmonies layered over the instrumentation feel nostalgic yet fresh, evoking images of neon-lit streets and late-night drives along coastal highways. What makes this song stick? Maybe it’s how effortlessly it balances melancholy with hope—a bittersweet reminder of moments gone but never forgotten. Another standout is “Last Summer Whisper.” This one hits differently because of its understated elegance. The interplay between Akira Nishimoto’s keyboards and Kiyoshi Saito’s saxophone creates an almost cinematic quality, while 杏里’s vocals glide over the mix like a soft breeze. It’s the kind of track that sneaks up on you; at first listen, it might seem simple, but repeated plays reveal layers of detail—like Motoya Hamaguchi’s subtle percussion or the delicate strings provided by Kato Strings. You can practically smell the saltwater and sunscreen just listening to it. What really ties Heaven Beach together are the contributions from its talented ensemble. From Hiromi Yasuda’s acoustic guitar work to Nobuo Yagi’s harmonica flourishes, every musician brings something unique to the table. Even the photography by Hisako Ohkubo adds to the vibe, capturing the essence of summer escapism. Looking back, what strikes me most about this album isn’t just its technical brilliance—it’s the way it captures fleeting emotions. Tracks like “夏に背を向けて” (“Turning Away from Summer”) and “Lonely Driving” evoke feelings so vivid they almost hurt. And maybe that’s why albums like Heaven Beach still resonate today. They remind us that even paradise has its shadows, and sometimes, the best memories come wrapped in wistfulness. Funny thing though—listening to this now, I couldn’t help but think: if heaven had a beach, would it really sound this funky? Either way, I’m here for it.

Artist: 杏里
Album: Heaven Beach ヘブンビーチ

Japan

1982

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Download

Filename: heaven-beach.zip

MP3 size: 35 mb
FLAC size: 503 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Resolution
二番目のAffair
Memorial Story
夏に背を向けて
Fly By Day
Honesty Man
Heaven Beach
Flash Back Memories
Lonely Driving
Last Summer Whisper

Video

Anri - Fly By Day

Images

Album herunterladen 杏里 - Heaven Beach ヘブンビーチ

Catalog Numbers

28C-27

Labels

For Life Records

Listen online

escuchar en línea
lytte på nettet
online anhören
écouter en ligne
ascolta in linea
lyssna på nätet
online luisteren
kuunnella verkossa
ouvir online

Formats

Cassette
Album

Credits

Role	Credit
Acoustic Guitar	Hiromi Yasuda, Toshiaki Usui
Arranged By	Ichizo Seo
Chorus	Ichizo Seo
Bass	Chiharu Mikuzuki, Kenji Takamizu, Michio Nagaoka
Coordinator	Tomio Watanabe
Directed By	Nobuo Tsunetomi
Drums	Hidenobu Takimoto, Masahiro Miyazaki, Takeo Kikuchi
Electric Guitar	Ken Yajima, Masaki Matsubara, Tsuyoshi Kon
Engineer	Ryoichi Ishizuka
Harmonica	Nobuo Yagi
Keyboards	Akira Nishimoto, Hidetoshi Yamada, Makiko Tashiro, Ryoichi Kunoyoshi
Percussion	Motoya Hamaguchi
Photography By	Hisako Ohkubo
Programmed By	Keishi Urata
Saxophone	Kiyoshi Saito, Shunzo Sunahara, Takeru Muraoka
Strings	Kato Strings
Trombone	Eiji Arai
Trumpet	Susumu Kazuhara & His Group

About 杏里

Japanese singer-songwriter, born 1961 in Yamato, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

Real Name

ෝඋࠄ୐ (Kawashima Eiko)

Name Vars

ݏǌ

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know? The 1982 Japanese album *Heaven Beach* by 杏里 (Anri) is a hidden gem in the City Pop genre. It blends funky basslines, dreamy synths, and smooth saxophone riffs, creating that quintessential summer vibe. What’s wild is how many talented musicians came together to make it happen—over 20 credited artists, from acoustic guitarists to trombone players! Tracks like "Heaven Beach" and "Lonely Driving" feel like cruising along a coastal highway, even if you're just sitting at home. It’s no wonder this album has become a cult favorite among City Pop fans worldwide.

Comments

tinericuviziune

2025-03-05

Most underrated of anri?

redesignthebox

2025-03-04

desperately need a playlist which has songs like this

pachis

2025-03-04

February 5th, 2023. The day I found this song and am currently obsessed with :'). I'm glad i found this underrated gem. So addicting and with this change in warm weather. I can't to blast this during summer.