Strings Of My Soul

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Strings Of My Soul
Album by Tak Matsumoto
Released June 20, 2012
Genre Instrumental, Rock, Jazz
Length 53:52 (Japan)
45:53 (International)
Label Vermillion Records
House Of Strings (Japan)
335 Records (International)
Producer Tak Matsumoto

Strings Of My Soul is the ninth studio album by Tak Matsumoto, released on June 20, 2012. Following its domestic Japanese release, the album was issued physically and digitally in the United States and Europe by 335 Records on August 7, 2012. The release is between a traditional studio album and compilation, featuring both new and old tracks alike with previously released songs being re-recorded with fresh updates on all tracks. Included in the limited edition of the Japanese release was a DVD disc containing all of Tak's solo music videos to date along with previously unreleased live footage from B'z concerts as well as excerpts from Tak's showing with the Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra in 2004.

Tak Matsumoto in the foremost promo image released to the press for the album. The album was released worldwide but in both physical and digital forms, and came very near to that of the first worldwide English album for B'z.
Tak in an alternate promo image. The album marked the second occasion that he collaborated with American jazz legend Larry Carlton, on which they collaborated on their East-Meets-West studio album TAKE YOUR PICK in 2010.

The album would be the work that was Tak's first created with an international team at heart, with Tak producing the album alongside Paul Brown and Robert Williams. Brown also co-wrote the lyrics to the album's only vocal song, "Live Life", with Dax Reynosa as well as contributing to the arrangement. Several months following the album's release, the track was released as a digital single in the United States and Japan with both a new instrumental version and the original vocal rendition included.

Strings Of My Soul debuted at number four on the Weekly Oricon Albums chart and was the winner of Best Instrumental Album at the 27th Japan Gold Disc Awards. The album is available internationally on various outlets in both physical and digital forms, being sold on Amazon in both forms as well as being available on iTunes in several countries.

Production and information

The genesis for the album came about as Tak was looking to produce an album that culled his most representative solo material to date into a single work, with him explaining in the 335 Records press release:

“ To begin with, the idea of making this album was to make an album with all of my favorite songs I've encountered during my solo career. Not just a best-of album, but I wanted to try playing them again with my current style. More like "A new album of myself". ”

The title of the album is drawn from an instrumental composition of Tak's from the B'z double album The 7th Blues in 1994. While the song itself is not included on the album, two different performances are included on the bonus DVD.

While fundamentally the same, differences exist between the Japanese and international editions of the album. The tracks "#1090 Sen Mu Ichiya", collected here but originally from 2002's Hana, and "99", originally from 1992's Wanna Go Home, were not included for the international edition, leaving "The Moment" and "Romeo & Juliet" to open and close the album, respectively. Additionally, the album's cover of "SUKIYAKI" featuring Larry Carlton was given a different mix in the international edition compared to the original, while "THE WINGS" would be shortened with slightly different guitar work outside of Japan.

The album was met with extremely positive reception in foreign markets that had previously been unfamiliar with Tak's music. Wave.fm awarded the album a glowing review, stating, "The man can play any style, any time and play it astonishly well" and adding, "Breathtaking. That’s all I can say. Absolutely exquisitely breathtaking. Drama, poignancy, rockin’ riffs and oriental nuance, Tak finds it all and steals my breath in the process." Allmusic.com likewise reviewed the album positively, writing, "There are moments when the crackling rock energy simmers down to a vibe that would fit comfortably in the smooth jazz format, but even on those, Matsumoto's precision and intimacy (with the expectation of powerful explosions in the distance) are awe-inspiring."

Track listing

All music composed by and guitar performed by Tak Matsumoto unless otherwise noted.

Japanese Edition

  1. #1090 Sen Mu Ichiya — Thousand Dreams, 千夢一夜
    Based on the version found on the 2002 studio album Hana ta05.jpg The song is a reinterpretation of Tak's second and most successful solo single "#1090 ~Thousand Dreams~". The version found here is roughly the same as that found on the aforementioned album but has been remixed to raise the volume of the guitar throughout and features a new guitar solo. The Hana version of the song has also long served as the ending theme to the television music program Music Station, on which the original version has opened the show for decades. The song was not included on the international version of the album.
  2. The Moment
  3. Live Life
  4. TRINITY
  5. BLUE
  6. Hana — Flower, 華
  7. Koi Uta — Love Song, 恋歌
  8. sasanqua~Fuyu no Hi — Winter Sun, 冬の陽
  9. THE WINGS
    Exists in two versions, with the American edition being edited to a shorter runtime with extra guitar phrases not in the Japanese release.
  10. SUKIYAKI featuring LARRY CARLTON
    The domestic Japanese version of the song was mixed by Hiroyuki Kobayashi, while Paul Brown was responsible for the American version's mixing.
  11. MY FAVORITE THINGS
  12. Romeo & Juliet
  13. 99
    Not included in the international edition.

International Edition

  1. The Moment
  2. Live Life
  3. Trinity
  4. Blue
  5. Hana
  6. Koi-Uta
  7. Sasanqua~Winter Sun
  8. The Wings
  9. Sukiyaki (feat. Larry Carlton)
  10. My Favorite Things
  11. Romeo & Juliet

Personnel

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